RNA polymerases from a rat hepatoma. Partial purification and comparison of properties with corresponding liver enzymes.

DNA-dependent RNA polymerases were extracted from the nuclei of poorly differentiated tumor, Morris hepatoma 3924A, and purified by an initial chromatography on a DEAE-Sephadex column followed by fractionation on phosphocellulose and finally on a second DEAE-Sephadex column. Three major forms of RNA polymerase (IA, IB and II) were resolved chromatographically. Enzymes IA, IB and II eluted from DEAE-Sephadex at 75, 150 and 210 mM (NH4)2SO4, respectively. The specific activities (nmol UMP incorporated mg protein per 15 min) of polymerases IA, IB and II were 40, 43 and 182, respectively. Concurrently, DNA-dependent RNA polymerases were extracted from normal liver and subjected to similar chromatographic procedure. Upon the final DEAE-Sephadex chromatography, enzymes IA, IB and II eluted at 110, 180 and 210 mM (NH4)2SO4, respectively. The recovery of polymerases IA, IB and II after purification was 0.21, 0,28 and 0.42 unit/mg DNA, respectively, for hepatoma enzymes and 0.07, 0.05 and 0.42 unit/mg DNA for the corresponding liver enzymes.