POLYNUCLEOTIDE SEQUENCE ANALYSIS BY SEQUENTIAL BASE ELIMINATION - 3'-TERMINUS OF PHAGE QBETA RNA

The nucleotide sequence of a 3′-terminal fragment obtained by ribonuclease T1 hydrolysis of the ribonucleic acid from bacteriophage Qβ has been determined by an improved method of sequence analysis which involves sequential removal of bases by periodate oxidation and beta-elimination. The results obtained from ten such oxidation-elimination cycles and from the alkaline hydrolysis of the remaining oligonucleotide indicate that the first 16 nucleotides at the 3′-terminus of this ribonucleic acid have the sequence: -G-C-C-C-U-C-U-C-U-C-C-U-C-C-C-A.