Cleavage of adenovirus messenger RNA and of 28S and 18S ribosomal RNA by RNase III.

Escherichia coli ribonuclease III cleaves adenovirus messenger RNA and mammalian 28S and 18S ribosomal RNA. Fragmentation is not random, but in each case a specific collection of products is generated. This points to the potential use of the enzyme as a tool for specific fragmentation of RNA. Cleavage by RNase III abolishes the capability of adenovirus messenger RNA to direct cell-free synthesis of virus polypeptides.