Increased synthesis of low-molecular-weight nuclear ribonucleic acids of rat liver after gamma irradiation and hepatectomy.

Incorporation of [3H]orotic acid into low-molecular-weight nRNA of rat liver, fractionated on polyacrylamide gels, increased 6-12h after partial hepatectomy and 6h after gamma-irridation at 2000 R. The incorporation of orotic acid was particularly increased into the 4.5S, 5S and approx. 10S nRNA fractions. If the irradiation was given after 6h of regeneration and RNA was isolated from the nucleus 12h after hepatectomy then the incorporation of orotic acid into these low-molecular-weight nRNA components was greater than after hepatectomy or irradiation alone.