The extraction, characterization andin vitrotranslation of RNA from adultSchistosoma mansoni

Abstract

SUMMARY: We have extracted RNA fromSchistosoma mansoniusing the lithium chloride–urea method which gives good yields of undegraded RNA. The results of agarose gel electrophoresis of RNA extracted by this procedure suggest thatS. mansonihas anin vivonick in the large rRNA sub-unit. Translation of the RNA in a rabbit reticulocyte lysate gave significant incorporation of [³⁵S]methionine into synthesized proteins. Immuno-precipitation of these translation products using a hyperimmune monkey serum sedimented between 5 and 8% of the radioactivity, which appeared to be present in approximately 13 proteins of molecular weights 18, 20, 21, 22, 23, 35, 40, 54, 60, 70, 74, 78 and 105 K Daltons.