67 – RNA-Bound Reverse Transcriptase in Escherichia coli and in Vitro Synthesis of a Complementary DNA

Biochemical genetics, 1974, 12, pp. 163-180. Available in English only ABSTRACT: RNA-bound reverse transcriptase can be easily distinguished from RNA-free reverse transcriptase and DNA-dependent DNA polymerase after fractionation of extracts from Escherichia coli on a DEAE-cellulose column. This enzyme is capable of synthesizing a DNA-like product in the absence of exogenously added template provided that all four deoxyribonucleoside 5′-triphosphates are present in the incubation mixture. Removal of RNA from the enzyme by RNase leads to a considerably decreased polymerizing activity. The activity can be restored under appropriate conditions either by RNA originating from the enzyme or by transforming RNA excreted by showdomycin-resistant E. coli. Enzyme-bound RNA has several characteristics already found for the transforming RNA. DNA synthesized by RNA-bound reverse transcriptase is complementary to the enzyme-bound RNA.Read the full publication