Processing and function of undermethylated chicken embryo fibroblast mRNA.

Cycloleucine (1-aminocyclopentane-1-carboxylic acid) is a potent inhibitor of RNA methylation in B77 sarcoma virus-infected chicken embryo fibroblasts. Under conditions where 40 mM cycloleucine is present, internal N-6-methyladenosine and 5'-terminal cap 2'-O-ribose methylations of poly(A)+ RNA are inhibited greater than 90%. The methylation of the 5'-terminal 7-methylguanosine, however, does not appear to be significantly affected. The poly(A)+ RNA synthesized in cycloleucine-treated cells is transported from the nucleus to the cytoplasm and associates with polyribosomes at rates comparable to poly(A)+ RNA in untreated cells. On the other hand, the transport and utilization of newly synthesized ribosomal RNA in cycloleucine-treated cells is impaired, and the accumulation of mature 18 S and 28 S rRNA is reduced.