An "external" RNA removable from mammalian cells by mild proteolysis.

Brief exposure of Chinese hamster ovary cell monolayers prelabeled with [(32)P]phosphate and [(3)H]leucine to 1 mug/ml of trypsin under conditions in which cells remain fully viable causes the release of macromolecular (32)P and (3)H. Whereas ribonuclease treatment was found to affect markedly both the (32)P and (3)H radioactivity, Pronase treatment had little effect on the macromolecular (32)P. Treatment of cells prelabeled with [(3)H]glucosamine and [(32)P]phosphate with insolubilized papain also revealed a parallel release of macromolecular glucosamine together with ribonuclease-susceptible macromolecular phosphate. Lactoperoxidase-mediated radioiodination of surface components in cells prelabeled with [(32)P]phosphate revealed electrophoretic comigration between the (125)I and the (32)P that are removed from the cells by mild proteolysis. Growth of the cells in Bt(2)cAMP-testosterone altered the kinetics of release and nature of the macromolecular (32)P liberated by proteolysis.