Similar sets of terminal oligonucleotides from reovirus double-stranded RNA and viral messenger RNA synthesized in vitro

Abstract

Reovirus genomic double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) and viral messenger RNA synthesized in vitro were labeled by periodate oxidation and [3H]borohydride reduction. The 3H label was incorporated into 3′-terminal C residues and 5′-terminal N7-methylguanosine residues. Analysis of ribonuclease digests of the 3H-labeled RNA indicated that the minus strands of dsRNA contained the common 3′-terminal sequence [Formula: see text]PypPupGpC and that the plus strands contained heterogeneous sequences at both the 5′ termini and 3′ termini that corresponded to sequences at the 5′ and 3′ termini of mRNA. These results suggest that the plus strands of dsRNA and mRNA synthesized in vitro are essentially identical sets of molecules.