Abstract
Previous experiments have established that RNA replicases induced by RNA viruses require homologous and intact RNA for proper synthetic activity. studies of the Q[beta]-replicase suggested that this enzyme recognizes a secondary structure formed by the pairing of two complementary sequences, initial and terminal, one containing predominantly A and the other U. In conformity with this model, it has been found that Q[beta]-repllcase is specifically inhibited by synthetic polynucleotides composed principally of either A or U. Other polynucleotides, contain-ing mainly or solely C or G, are Inert. It was further shown that prior attachment of homologous template to enzyme eliminates the immediate inhibition by either poly A or U. The discovery of specific template requirements and the studies reported here suggest a new approach in the search for a novel and highly selective interference with viral replication via compounds which can neutralize the recognition mechanism between a replicase and its homologous template.

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