Interferon, double-stranded RNA and RNA degradation. Fractionation of the endonuclease INT system into two macromolecular components; Role of a small molecule in nuclease activation

Abstract

We reported earlier that a) the incubation of an extract from interferon-treated Ehrlich ascites tumor cells with double-straded RNA and ATP results in the activation of an endonuclease and b) after the activation the double-stranded RNA and ATP can be degraded without impairing the activity of the endonuclease. We report now the separation and partial purification of two macromolecular components (DE1 INT and DE2 INT) involved in the process. Upon incubation with double-stranded RNA and ATP component DE1 INT generates a heat-stable product of low molecular weight (designated as nuclease activator). On incubation with the nuclease activator a latent nuclease in component DE2 INT is activated.