Peter Bromley

Analysis of rous sarcoma virus (RSV) RNA structure by means of specific nucleases

Abstract The effects of Escherichia coli RNases III and IV and of Aspergillus oryzae T 1 ribonuclease and S1 nuclease on RSV 70 S and 35 S RNA have been analyzed by the fingerprinting technique. The results of such a study indicate that RSV RNA is a highly structured molecule in which the two 35 S subunits are intimately associated via a large number of specific interactions to form the 70 S complex. One of these interactions occurs in a region located at the 5′ end of the molecule and involves a double-stranded RNA stretch characterized by the presence of a large T, RNase-resistant oligonucleotide. Among the several folded RNA sequences detected, two of them are found at the initiation sites for in vitro revere transcription.

A model structure for Rous sarcoma virus genomic RNA and its implications for various functions of the viral RNA

The sequence and structure of RSV genomic RNA leader and gene junctions have been studied. The secondary structure of the leader and interactions of the gene junctions with a viral protein may well control the functions of RSV-RNA in reverse transcription, translation and processing.