The study demonstrates a high level of specificity for the initiation process of DNA synthesis by avian myeloblastosis virus DNA polymerase, supporting the role of a low-molecular-weight initiator RNA.
Specificity of AMV polymerase initiation supports initiator RNA; leaves open mechanistic confirmation and relevance beyond avian models.
Initiation of deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) synthesis by the avian myeloblastosis virus DNA polymerase was previously suggested to involve a ribonucleic acid (RNA) primer, the initial product being a DNA molecule joined by a phosphodiester bond to the RNA primer. The existence and nature of such an RNA-DNA joint was investigated by assaying for transfer of a (32)P atom from an alpha-(32)P-deoxyribonucleotide to a 2'(3')-ribonucleotide after alkaline hydrolysis of the polymerase product. Such a transfer was observed, but only from alpha-(32)P-deoxyadenosine triphosphate and only to 2'(3')-adenosine monophosphate. This same transfer was observed in both the endogenous DNA polymerase reaction of purified virions and the reconstructed reaction of purified DNA polymerase plus purified 60 to 70S viral RNA. These results indicate a high level of specificity for the initiation process and support the idea of a low-molecular-weight initiator RNA as part of the 60 to 70S RNA complex.
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Verma et al. (1972) studied this question.
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