Pancreatic ribonuclease-poly G complexes: complete inhibition of poly U hydrolysis.

Pancreatic ribonuclease forms large complexes with poly G in 0.1 M acetate buffer solutions (pH 5.4). These are largest when the ratio, of ribonuclease to poly G concentration, is slightly less than 2. Under the same conditions lysozyme forms still larger complexes with poly U, and these are largest when the ratio, of lysozyme to poly U concentration, is about 2.5. The ribonuclease in ribonuclease-poly G complexes digests poly U. Free ribonuclease digests the poly U in lysozyme-poly U complexes. However, when the poly G concentration is about an order of magnitude greater than that required to bind all the ribonuclease, lysozyme-bound poly U is not hydrolyzed.