Removal of the genome-linked protein of foot-and-mouth disease virus by rabbit reticulocyte lysate

Rabbit reticulocyte lysate cleaves the genome-linked protein VPg from foot-and-mouth disease virus (FMDV) RNA. This activity could be reliably monitored since removal of the protein resulted in a change in migration in polyacrylamide gels of the small specific 5' and fragment of the RNA (S fragment). The unlinking activity cleaved the bond between the tyrosine residue of VPg and the RNA to leave a 5' phosphate on the RNA. The 5' sequence of the RNA from which VPg had been removed by rabbit reticulocyte lysate was the same as that of FMDV mRNA isolated from infected cells. VPg released from the RNA was rapidly degraded by the rabbit reticulocyte lysate to material which eluted with the inclusion volume of a Sepharose 6B column and partitioned to the aqueous phase during phenol extraction. The unlinking activity was inhibited by heating the lysate to 56 degrees C, by sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS), EDTA, and Zn2+ ions but was unaffected by reducing agents, a translation inhibitor, and a number of protease and RNase inhibitors.