The 3′-Terminal Nucleosides of the High Molecular Weight RNA of Avian Myeloblastosis Virus

Abstract

The RNA isolated from avian myeloblastosis virus was fractionated by sucrose density gradient centrifugation. The 3′-OH terminal nucleosides of various fractions were determined by periodate oxidation followed by tritiated borohydride reduction. The 60-70S fraction and the 35S RNA derived from it by heating both have adenosine as the major terminal nucleoside, with cytidine as the next most frequent terminal. Control samples of tRNA^met_{f. coli} and 28S ribosomal RNA from mouse ascites tumor cells gave the expected terminal residues and molecular weights.