Polyamines stimulate DNA-dependent RNA synthesis catalyzed by vaccinia virus.
The RNA synthesis in purified vaccinia virus can occur in the presence of either Mg2+ or Mn2+ if polyamine (spermidine or spermine) is present in the assay system. Under our assay conditions transcription was linear up to 30 min and the RNAs synthesized had a sedimentation coefficient of about 8 to 12 S. We also prepared a virus extract from purified vaccinia virus and tested for in vitro transcription. The soluble transcription system was dependent on the addition of exogenous DNA and single-stranded DNA was a more effective template than double-stranded. In the presence of polyamine and Mg2+ or Mn2+ the viral RNA polymerase was active in the transcription of total native vaccinia DNA and a small fragment cloned in pBR322.
D003001:Cloning, Molecular; D004274:DNA, Recombinant / Q000378:metabolism; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000378:metabolism; D012321:DNA-Directed RNA Polymerases / Q000378:metabolism*; D008274:Magnesium / Q000378:metabolism; D008345:Manganese / Q000378:metabolism; D011073:Polyamines / Q000494:pharmacology*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000096:biosynthesis; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D013379:Substrate Specificity; D014158:Transcription, Genetic / Q000187:drug effects*; D014616:Vaccinia virus / Q000378:metabolism*; D014758:Viral Core Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*
D004274:DNA, Recombinant; D004279:DNA, Viral; D011073:Polyamines; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D012367:RNA, Viral; D014758:Viral Core Proteins; D008345:Manganese; D012321:DNA-Directed RNA Polymerases; D008274:Magnesium