title: RNA polymerase activity is associated with viral particles isolated from Leishmania braziliensis subsp. guyanensis.
abstract: Viral particles purified from species of the protozoan parasite Leishmania braziliensis subsp. guyanensis by centrifugation in CsCl gradients were examined for the presence of viral polymerase. We demonstrated that RNA-dependent RNA polymerase is associated with viral particles. Viral transcription was studied in vitro with pulse-chase experiments and by assaying the RNase sensitivity of the viral transcripts. Viral polymerase synthesized full-length transcripts within 1 h. Double-strained, genome-length, and single-stranded RNAs were produced in this system. The nature of the RNA extracted from virions was also tested by RNase protection assays; both single-stranded and double-stranded RNAs were found.
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Widmer
authors.forename: M C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Keenan
authors.forename: J L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Patterson
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002499:Centrifugation, Density Gradient; D012321:DNA-Directed RNA Polymerases / Q000378:metabolism*; D007891:Leishmania / Q000382:microbiology*; D007892:Leishmania braziliensis / Q000201:enzymology / Q000382:microbiology*; D012330:RNA, Double-Stranded / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000302:isolation & purification; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000302:isolation & purification; D014158:Transcription, Genetic; D014780:Viruses / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification
chemical_list: D012330:RNA, Double-Stranded; D012367:RNA, Viral; D012321:DNA-Directed RNA Polymerases