Transcription in vaccinia virus cores. The RNA produced during the first round of transcription does not differ from RNA transcribed in subsequent rounds.

RNA was synthesized in vitro in vaccinia virus cores for times sufficiently short that only the first round of transcription took place. This RNA was compared to RNA synthesized for longer times (which is mainly comprised of reinitiated RNA) by hybridization to fragments of vaccinia virus DNA obtained with several different restriction endonucleases. Under the conditions studied, the composition of mRNA produced during the first round of transcription was the same as that produced in subsequent (reinitiated) rounds. Thus, there is no special arrangement of polymerase molecules within the cores that would allow, in the first round of transcription, for the synthesis of mRNAs distinct from those made in subsequent rounds of transcription. Thus, attachment of polymerase molecules to DNA is likely to occur during preincubation in a way similar to that during reinitiation.