Isolation and Characterization of Simian Virus 40 Ribonucleic Acid

Abstract

Deoxyribonucleic acid-ribonucleic acid (RNA) hybridization in formamide was used to isolate simian virus 40-specific RNA. Early in the lytic cycle, a 19 S viral RNA species was observed. Late in the lytic cycle, 16 S and 19 S viral species were found. The 16 S and 19 S species of viral RNA were localized in the cytoplasm. High-molecular-weight heterogeneous RNA, containing viral sequences, was isolated from the nuclear fraction of infected cells late in the lytic cycle. This RNA may contain non-viral sequences linked to viral sequences. The formamide hybridization technique can be used to isolate intact late lytic viral RNA which is at least 99% pure.