RNA polymerase activity in bovine spermatozoa.
Washed mature spermatozoa from bulls incorporate ribonucleoside triphosphates into RNA using an endogenous template. Maximum incorporation was observed at 31 degrees C in the presence of MgCl2, all four ribonucleoside triphosphates, beta-mercaptoethanol, and glycine sodium hydroxide buffer at pH 9.0. The amount of synthesis was linearly dependent upon the concentration of spermatozoa and continued for at least 4 h. Digestion studies revealed the RNA to be present in a protected (intracellular?) location in the spermatozoa. The RNA synthesis was inhibited by ethidium bromide, rifampicin, acriflavine, actinomycin D, and caffeine, but not by alpha-amanitine or rifamycin SV. Fractionation of the spermatozoa by sonication and separation of the heads and tails by centrifugation through a discontinuous gradient revealed that more than half of the total RNA polymerase activity was associated with the tail fraction.
D000167:Acriflavine / Q000494:pharmacology; D000546:Amanitins / Q000494:pharmacology; D000818:Animals; D002417:Cattle; D002458:Cell Fractionation; D012321:DNA-Directed RNA Polymerases / Q000378:metabolism*; D003609:Dactinomycin / Q000494:pharmacology; D004996:Ethidium / Q000494:pharmacology; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D008297:Male; D012313:RNA / Q000096:biosynthesis; D012293:Rifampin / Q000494:pharmacology; D013077:Sperm Head / Q000201:enzymology; D013082:Sperm Tail / Q000201:enzymology; D013094:Spermatozoa / Q000201:enzymology*
D000546:Amanitins; D003609:Dactinomycin; D000167:Acriflavine; D012313:RNA; D012321:DNA-Directed RNA Polymerases; D004996:Ethidium; D012293:Rifampin