Characterisation of RNA polymerase activity in avian red blood cells

Synthesis of messenger-like RNA in avian erythrocyte nuclei

Cell ghosts have been prepared from mature chicken erythrocytes using 0.05% saponin. Such preparations are capable of incorporating label from [3H]UTP and provide a system, where the nucleus is permeable to nucleotides and macromolecules, for studying the low-level RNA synthesis characteristic of these cells. RNase A (50 micrograms/ml) eliminated all radioactivity binding to DE-81 filters, indicating that the product was RNA; and DNase (10 micrograms/ml) and actinomycin D (10 micrograms/ml) each inhibited UMP incorporation by 70%, suggesting that the synthesis was DNA-dependent. Polymerization was inhibited 90% by 0.1 microgram/ml alpha-amanitin, and maximum synthesis occurred in the presence of high salt (0.175 M KCl) and Mn2+ (0.5 mM). Polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis indicated that the newly synthesized RNA was heterogeneous in size, having a distribution from 5 to 60 S with a significant fraction migrating as 8-12 S. Approximately 15% of the total RNA was bound by an oligo(dT)-cellulose column, suggesting that some RNA processing was occurring, although attempts to detect the incorporation of label from [alpha-32P]GTP into a 5'-cap structure were unsuccessful. In comparison to RNA synthesis in reticulocyte nuclei, both the rate and extent of transcription in erythrocyte nuclei were much reduced. Moreover, about 25-30% of the reticulocyte nascent RNA was released from the nuclei during a 60-min incubation, while no release was observed for the erythrocyte nuclei. Hybridization of radiolabeled RNA to excess chicken DNA indicated that the majority (80%) of the in vitro transcripts were complementary to unique sequence DNA (C0t1/2 = 4.5 X 10(3)). When RNA synthesized by either erythrocyte or reticulocyte nuclei was hybridized to cDNA complementary to reticulocyte polysomal mRNA, about 8% of the reticulocyte nuclear RNA but less than 1% of the erythrocyte nuclear RNA were resistant to RNase A digestion. Taken together, these data suggest that nuclei prepared by saponin lysis of chicken erythrocytes synthesize messenger-like RNA via endogenous polymerase II activity. A fraction of this RNA is polyadenylated but contains few, if any, globin sequences or other transcripts found on reticulocyte polysomes.

Globin synthesis in hybrid cells constructed by transplantation of dormant avian erythrocyte nuclei into enucleated fibroblasts

The polypeptides synthesized by mature embryonic erythrocytes prepared from the peripheral blood of 14- to 15-day-old chicken embryos were analyzed by two-dimensional gel electrophoresis. Fewer than 200 species of polypeptides were detected; the major polypeptides made at this time were identified as the alpha A-, alpha D-, and beta-globin chains. The dormant erythrocyte nuclei were next reactivated to transcriptional competence by transplantation into enucleated mouse or chicken embryo fibroblasts, with frequencies of cytoplast renucleation of about 50 and 90%, respectively. Since large numbers of hybrid cells could be constructed, a biochemical analysis was possible. Electrophoretic analysis of the [35S]methionine-labeled polypeptides made in the hybrid cell types showed that polypeptides having the mobilities of only two (alpha A and alpha D) of the three major adult globin chains were made as major constituents of the hybrid cells. However, analysis of 14C-amino acid-labeled polypeptides revealed that a beta-like polypeptide that lacked methionine was also synthesized in large amounts. This polypeptide was tentatively identified as the early embryonic globin species rho. Globin synthesis was detected as early as 3 h after nuclear transplantation and as late as 18 h, the last time measured in these experiments. It appeared that globin polypeptides made at very early times were translated at least partially from chicken messenger ribonucleic acid introduced into the hybrid cells during fusion, whereas those made at later times were translated primarily from newly synthesized globin messenger ribonucleic acid. The potential usefulness of this hybrid cell system in analyzing mechanisms regulating globin gene expression is discussed.

Globin synthesis in hybrid cells constructed by transplantation of dormant avian erythrocyte nuclei into enucleated fibroblasts

The polypeptides synthesized by mature embryonic erythrocytes prepared from the peripheral blood of 14- to 15-day-old chicken embryos were analyzed by two-dimensional gel electrophoresis. Fewer than 200 species of polypeptides were detected; the major polypeptides made at this time were identified as the alpha A-, alpha D-, and beta-globin chains. The dormant erythrocyte nuclei were next reactivated to transcriptional competence by transplantation into enucleated mouse or chicken embryo fibroblasts, with frequencies of cytoplast renucleation of about 50 and 90%, respectively. Since large numbers of hybrid cells could be constructed, a biochemical analysis was possible. Electrophoretic analysis of the [35S]methionine-labeled polypeptides made in the hybrid cell types showed that polypeptides having the mobilities of only two (alpha A and alpha D) of the three major adult globin chains were made as major constituents of the hybrid cells. However, analysis of 14C-amino acid-labeled polypeptides revealed that a beta-like polypeptide that lacked methionine was also synthesized in large amounts. This polypeptide was tentatively identified as the early embryonic globin species rho. Globin synthesis was detected as early as 3 h after nuclear transplantation and as late as 18 h, the last time measured in these experiments. It appeared that globin polypeptides made at very early times were translated at least partially from chicken messenger ribonucleic acid introduced into the hybrid cells during fusion, whereas those made at later times were translated primarily from newly synthesized globin messenger ribonucleic acid. The potential usefulness of this hybrid cell system in analyzing mechanisms regulating globin gene expression is discussed.