Open AccessAn Analysis of the Polyoma Virus DNA‐RNA Hybridization Reaction in vitro
Author(s) -
Hudson J. B.
Publication year - 1969
Publication title -
european journal of biochemistry
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 1432-1033
pISSN - 0014-2956
DOI - 10.1111/j.1432-1033.1969.tb00583.x
Subject(s) - rna , dna , microbiology and biotechnology , polyoma virus , biology , nucleic acid thermodynamics , in vitro , escherichia coli , virus , chemistry , virology , biochemistry , gene
A study was made of the parameters involved in the hybridization reaction between Polyoma virus DNA and its complementary RNA, with a view to establishing conditions suitable for routine measurement of the viral specific RNA synthesized in vivo . In general the reaction obeyed the same principles as those determined for the Escherichia coli DNA‐RNA system. An interesting result was the finding that the neutralized “random cyclic‐coil” form of Polyoma DNA had as good a hybridization capacity as the heat‐denatured naturally occurring double‐stranded circular form, under certain conditions; an observation which has important relevance to the structure of the cyclic‐coil DNA. An analysis was also made of the “competition hybridization” reaction, leading to the development of conditions minimizing the non‐specific effect displayed by various types of RNA. Under the conditions derived for optimal assay, the level of viral RNA synthesis was found to be several times greater than previously reported values.