[Characteristics of acid ribonuclease from rat thymus chromatin].

Acid ribonuclease, free of nucleases and phosphatases, is isolated from rat thymus chromatin. The pH optimum of the enzyme is 5.0-5.5, optimal concentrations of Na+ and K+ ions are 0.05-0.15 M and 0.05 M respectively, Mg2+ inhibits the enzyme activity. The enzyme hydrolyses poly U, poly AU, cytoplasmic and nuclear RNAs, but does not attack poly A, polyG, polyC, poly A:poly U, native and denatured DNA'S. The enzyme is 3'-endonuclease, it splits the bond between the 5'-carbon atom of adenosine, guanosine and uridine and 3'-phosphate of uridilic residue. Middle length of oligonucleotides after the hydrolysis of cytoplasmic RNA comprises 10 nucleotides. Possible role of the enzyme in the processing of nuclear RNAs is discussed.