Studies of low molecular weight RNA from cells infected with adenovirus 2. II. Heterogeneity at the 5' end of VA-RNA I.

The 5'-terminal sequences of VA-RNA I produced in cells infected with adenovirus 2 were analyzed. The RNA contained a mixture of mono-, di-, and triphosphate ends. The largest part of the RNA has 5'-terminal mono-, di-, or triphosphoguanylic acid, but a portion of the RNA has a 5'-terminal mono-, di-, or triphosphoadenylic acid. An RNA with 5'-terminal adenylic acid was purified and gave the same oligonucleotide map as the major form of VA-RNA I, except for the 5'-terminal products. We therefore conclude that transcription of VA-RNA I can initiate at two different nearby sites.