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Design, synthesis and characterisation of a 34-residue polypeptide that interacts with nucleic acids

Abstract

Based on secondary structure prediction rules and model building a neutral artificial 34-residue polypeptide with potential nucleic acid-binding activity was synthesised. This peptide and its covalent dimer showed strong interaction with cytidine phosphates and single-stranded DNA. The dimer had considerable ribonuclease activity with high preference for cleavage at the 3′-end of C.

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Gutte, B., Däumigen, M. & Wittschieber, E. Design, synthesis and characterisation of a 34-residue polypeptide that interacts with nucleic acids. Nature 281, 650–655 (1979). https://doi.org/10.1038/281650a0

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