Polyethylene sulfonate as inhibitor of initiation by Qβ replicase

Abstract 1. 1. Initiation, but not elongation of RNA synthesis by Qβ replicase is completely inhibited by polyethylene sulfonate at low concentrations. 2. 2. Polyethylene sulfonate affects a step subsequent to the primary binding of Qβ RNA to replicase and prior to the formation of the first few internucleotide bonds. 3. 3. Addition of polyethylene sulfonate to a Qβ RNA-directed Qβ replicase reaction, after initiation has taken place, leads to the exclusive formation of free, single-stranded minus strands. 4. 4. The inhibition by polyethylene sulfonate can be reversed by the addition of an appropriate quantity of protamine sulfate.