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Interferon‐γ activates the cleavage of double‐stranded RNA by bovine seminal ribonuclease
Author(s) -
Schein Catherine H.,
Haugg Monika,
Benner Steven A.
Publication year - 1990
Publication title -
febs letters
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.593
H-Index - 257
eISSN - 1873-3468
pISSN - 0014-5793
DOI - 10.1016/0014-5793(90)81275-s
Subject(s) - ribonuclease , cleavage (geology) , rna , chemistry , interferon , rnase p , biochemistry , microbiology and biotechnology , biology , virology , gene , paleontology , fracture (geology)
Bovine seminal ribonuclease (BS‐RNase), a dimeric homologue of RNase A, cleaves both single‐ and double‐stranded RNA and inhibits the growth of tumor cells. Its catalytic activity against double‐stranded RNA, either homopolymeric ([ 3 H]polyA/polyU) or mixed sequence, is enhanced by bovine or human recombinant interferon‐γ (IFN‐γ). Activation is seen with as little as 4–10 interferon units per assay. Enhancing the degradation of double‐stranded RNA, an intermediate in the growth cycle of many viruses, could contribute to IFN‐γ's ability to control cell growth and induce an antiviral state.