title: Ribosomal RNA cleavage, nuclease activation and 2-5A(ppp(A2'p)nA) in interferon-treated cells.
abstract: Ribosomal RNA (rRNA) in intact ribosomes is cleaved into discrete products on incubation of reticulocyte lysates or L-cell extracts with ppp(A2'p)3A. Cleavage of rRNA may, therefore, provide a useful assay for 2-5A (ppp)A2'p)nA; n = 2 to 4) or for the presence of a 2-5A-dependent nuclease. The results with reticulocyte lysates differed from those obtained in the L-cell-free system in that (a) a different RNA cleavage pattern was produced (with added L-cell ribosomes) and (b) cleavage was fully activated by the analogue ppp(A2'p)3A3'pCp. As might be expected from the relatively high levels of 2-5A present in interferon-treated, encephalomyocarditis virus (EMC)-infected L-cells, rRNA extracted from these cells was also cleaved. The cleavage pattern observed overlapped with that obtained on incubation of an L-cell-free system with 2-5A. Thus, not only is 2-5A present, but the 2-5A-dependent nuclease also appears to be active, in interferon-treated, EMC-infected L-cells.
mesh_terms: D000227:Adenine Nucleotides / Q000378:metabolism*; D000818:Animals; D004720:Endonucleases / Q000378:metabolism*; D004789:Enzyme Activation; D007372:Interferons / Q000494:pharmacology*; D007700:Kinetics; D007739:L Cells / Q000378:metabolism; D051379:Mice; D009841:Oligonucleotides / Q000378:metabolism*; D009843:Oligoribonucleotides / Q000378:metabolism*; D012335:RNA, Ribosomal / Q000378:metabolism*; D012156:Reticulocytes / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D000227:Adenine Nucleotides; D009841:Oligonucleotides; D009843:Oligoribonucleotides; D012335:RNA, Ribosomal; C023505:2',5'-oligoadenylate; D007372:Interferons; D004720:Endonucleases