National Institute of Oenetics, Mishima, 411, Japan
Abstract:
The double-stranded RNA genome of cytoplasmic polyhedrosis virus consists of ten different segments. The RNA was oxidized and then reduced with [3H]sodium borohydride to label the ribose moieties of 3′-terminal nucleosides. The labeled genome segments were separated from each other by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, and their 3′-termini were analysed by alkaline digestion and column chromatography. It was concluded that all ten genome segments have the identical 3′-terminal structure, carrying cytosine in one RNA chain and uracil in another chain: In the course of experiments, some radioactive non-nucleosidic materials were found to be associated with every 3H-labeled RNA segment. These materials were released from RNA by dilute alkaline solution, and not adsorbed on charcoal.