Open AccessOn the Role of RNA in Gene Amplification
Author(s) -
Ronald D. Brown,
Glauco P. TocchiniValentini
Publication year - 1972
Publication title -
proceedings of the national academy of sciences of the united states of america
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 5.011
H-Index - 771
eISSN - 1091-6490
pISSN - 0027-8424
DOI - 10.1073/pnas.69.7.1746
Subject(s) - xenopus , biology , rna , dna , microbiology and biotechnology , rna polymerase i , ribosomal rna , rnase p , rna dependent rna polymerase , polymerase , rnase h , gene , genetics
A complex of ribosomal DNA with RNA has been isolated from ovaries of metamorphosing tadpoles ofXenopus laevis . The complex is disrupted by treatments that destroy hydrogen bonds, and the sedimentation of the DNA within the complex is sensitive to RNase. We suggest that the RNA-ribosomal DNA complex is an intermediate in the synthesis of amplified ribosomal DNA and that the RNA is a template. In addition, in a preliminary attempt to mimic the amplification processin vitro , we have demonstrated the use of this RNA from the complex as a template for DNA synthesis by a DNA polymerase isolated from ovaries ofXenopus .