Purification and mode of action of a microsomal endoribonuclease from rat liver

Purification and properties of a decapping enzyme from rat liver cytosol

A decapping enzyme has been purified about 2400-fold from rat liver cytosol. The decapping enzyme was shown to be fairly homogeneous by sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. The enzyme had an apparent molecular weight of 110,000 and consisted of two equal subunits. The enzyme hydrolyzed m7Guo5'PPP5'Ado to m7GMP and ADP. Analysis of the products produced from radioactively capped oligonucleotides and intact mRNA having 3H-cap suggests that the enzyme can hydrolyze capped mono- to pentanucleotides (m7Guo5'PPP5'N (where N = 1-5 nucleotides)) but not intact mRNA. The existence of methyl group at the N7 position of guanosine moiety of cap structure was necessary for the action of the decapping enzyme. This was confirmed by the comparison of the rates of hydrolysis of m7Guo5'PPP5'Ado by the enzyme in the presence of various nucleotides. The activity of enzyme was slightly stimulated by Na+, K+, NH4+, Ca2+ and polyamines. Mg2+ and Mn2+ were without effect on the enzyme activity.

Purification and mode of action of a microsomal exoribonuclease from rat liver

An exoribonuclease has been purified nearly to homogeneity from rat liver microsomes and its mode of action and general properties were studied. The molecular weight values for the enzyme, as estimated by gel filtration and SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, were 88 000 and 92 000, respectively. The enzyme produced, via a processive mechanism Ado5'P as the only product from poly(A). The results of the hydrolysis of 4 S (Ado5'P)n and (Ado3'P)n by the exoribonuclease with or without alkaline phosphatase and the inhibition of the enzymatic activity by oligonucleotides having a 3'-phosphate group in the 3'-terminus suggested that the degradation proceeds in the 3' to 5' direction. These findings were confirmed by the analysis of hydrolyzed products of various oligoadenylates and Ado3'PUrdPGuo and by the comparison of the rates of hydrolysis of (Ado3'P)2Ado by the enzyme in the presence of varying amounts of (Ado3'P)3. Mg2+ was required for the enzymatic activity, and Mn2+ partially substituted for Mg2+. The activity of the enzyme was stimulated by K+ and spermine.