INDUCTION BY AN RNA PHAGE OF AN ENZYME CATALYZING INCORPORATION OF RIBONUCLEOTIDES INTO RIBONUCLEIC ACID

Abstract
Infection of E. coli with an RNA phage induces the formation of an enzyme catalyzing the incorporation of nucleotides from ribonucleoside 5[image]-triphosphates into RNA. This enzyme was purified about 50-fold and appears to be particulate in nature. Optimal activity requires the presence of all four ribonucleoside triphosphates, ATP, GTP, UTP, and CTP. The purified preparations are essentially free of DNA-dependent RNA polymerase but contain polynucleotide phosphorylase. They also contain large amounts of RNA and a dependence on added RNA for activity of the enzyme has not been shown. The enzyme, for which the name RNA synthetase is suggested, may be involved in the replication of viral RNA.