Ribonucleic acids in relation to growth

Abstract

DNA-RNA complexes were isolated from photoperiodically induced apical buds of Chenopodium anaranticolor and germinating tobacco seedlings. The RNA complexed with the DNA was resistant to the action of ribonuclease but was alkali labile. The presence of Actinomycin D and 2-thiouracil inhibited the formation of these conplexes in C. amaranticolor. 2-Thiouracil was found to be incorporated into the nucleic acids of induced apical buds. DNA-RNA complexes were isolated from Sarcoma 180 cells. The RNA associated with the DNA was resistant to the action of ribonuclease but was alkali labile. Alkaline hydrolysis of the ribonuclease-resistant RNA associated with the DNA, yielded nucleoside-2’ and 3’-phosphates. These results suggested that the RNA was base paired to the DNA in the form of polyribonucleotides, and that this structure was a DNA-RNA hybrid.