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Direct Chemical Biotinylation of RNA 5′-Ends Using a Diazo Reagent

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Book cover Epitranscriptomics

Part of the book series: Methods in Molecular Biology ((MIMB,volume 1870))

Abstract

Introduction of chemical labels into biomolecules is of utmost importance in chemical biology research. However, methods for selective chemical labeling of in vitro transcribed RNA are scarce. Herein, we describe experimental details for direct labeling of the 5′-phosphate of RNA using a diazo biotin-reagent, as exemplified on a 110 nucleotide RNA obtained via in vitro transcription. The method exploits the fact that, under neutral buffer conditions (~pH 6.8), the 5′-phosphate carries the only mildly acidic proton in the RNA molecule, which allows for selective functionalization at that site using diazo reagents.

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Acknowledgement

G.M.R. was supported by the NIBR postdoctoral training program.

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Correspondence to Christian M. Gampe .

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Rice, G.M., Nutiu, R., Gampe, C.M. (2019). Direct Chemical Biotinylation of RNA 5′-Ends Using a Diazo Reagent. In: Wajapeyee, N., Gupta, R. (eds) Epitranscriptomics. Methods in Molecular Biology, vol 1870. Humana Press, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4939-8808-2_6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4939-8808-2_6

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  • Publisher Name: Humana Press, New York, NY

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-4939-8807-5

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-4939-8808-2

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