Small RNAs of Rous sarcoma virus: characterization by two-dimensional polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and fingerprint analysis.

Approximately 15 to 20 different species of small (4 to 7S) RNAs have been purified by two-dimensional polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis of RNA isolated from virions of Schmidt-Ruppin D strain of Rous sarcoma virus. Each species of small RNA has been isolated free of 70S RNA; nine of them, including 5S and 7S RNAs, were also found associated with the 70S genomic RNA. Most of the 4S RNAs are present at an average of less than one copy per virion. The 4S RNAs have T1 RNase (EC 2.7.7.26) fingerprints, which are very similar to those of tRNAs. One of the smallest 4S RNAs, which can act as a primer for initiation of RNA-directed DNA synthesis, is associated with the 70S RNA in 1 to 2 copies per complex, whereas an additional 6 to 8 copies of this molecule are free.