title: Polyadenylic acid sequences in the genomic RNA of the togavirus of simian hemorrhagic fever.
abstract: Since serologic studies have failed to relate the togavirus simian hemorrhagic fever (SHF) virus to any currently accepted genus within the Togaviridae family, the presence of polyadenylic acid [poly(A)] in the genomic RNA was analyzed in view of the different content reported for the two major genera of that family: alphaviruses where poly(A) is 40 to 120 nucleotides long and flavivirus where poly(A) is considered to be absent. Oligo(dT)-cellulose chromatography of whole genomic RNA from purified SHF virus revealed that about 36% of the molecules contained segments of poly(A) of sufficient length to bind to oligo(dT)-cellulose. However, a reproducible fraction of the RNAs did not bind to oligo(dT)-cellulose, indicating little or no poly(A) present. When analyzed by electrophoresis under denaturing conditions, both the binding and nonbinding molecules were similar in size. In addition, no polyuridylic acid [poly(U)] was detected in SHF virus genomic RNA. After digestion of the genomic RNA with pancreatic and T1 ribonucleases, the resultant resistant polynucleotide sedimented by ultracentrifugation between tRNA and 5 S RNA. Base composition analysis of these polynucleotides detected only adenosinic residues. A mean length of 76 +/- 2 nucleotides for these poly(A) sequences of SHF virus RNA was established by electrophoresis under denaturing conditions. Thus, together with previous morphological as well as biochemical findings, the presence of a poly(A) sequence is further evidence that SHF virus has distinctive characteristics which differentiates it from the two major subgroups of togavirus.
authors.forename: J L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Sagripanti
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004901:Erythrocebus patas; D005814:Genes, Viral; D006482:Hemorrhagic Fevers, Viral / Q000382:microbiology / Q000662:veterinary*; D008992:Monkey Diseases / Q000382:microbiology*; D009693:Nucleic Acid Hybridization; D011061:Poly A / Q000032:analysis*; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000235:genetics*; D014035:Togaviridae / Q000235:genetics*; D014036:Togaviridae Infections / Q000382:microbiology / Q000662:veterinary*
chemical_list: D012367:RNA, Viral; D011061:Poly A