Ribonucleoprotein particles containing heterogeneous nuclear RNA in the cellular slime mold Dictyostelium discoideum

As in higher eukaryotes, heterogeneous nuclear RNA (HNRNA) in the cellular slime mold Dictyostelium discoideum is associated with proteins in the form of ribonucleoprotein particles. Mixing experiments with deproteinized hnRNA establish that the nuclear ribonucleoprotein particles are not formed artificially during isolation. In contrast to comparable material from mammalian cells (polydisperse, 40-25- S), Dictyostelium heterogeneous nuclear ribonucleoprotein particles sediment at only 55 S in sucrose gradients, possibly reflecting the smaller size of slime mold hnRNA relative to the large hnRNA found in higher eukaryotes. The RNA of the nuclear 55S ribonucleoprotein particles is shown to be hnRNA by virtue of its size (15S), content of polyadenylate sequences, and hybridization kinetics at DNA excess. The hnRNA-associated porteins are electrophoretically complex and have molecular weights between 20,000 and 150,000. In 0.35 M NaCl most of the proteins are released from the hnRNA. However, a single protein of 72,000-74,000 molecular weight remains bound, as indicated by its co-chromatography with the RNA on poly(U)-Sepharose and banding in Cs2SO4. The same protein is recovered when heterogeneous nuclear ribonucleoprotein is digested with T1 ribonuclease under conditions where the poly(A) is nuclease-resistant. The 73,000 molecular weight protein appears to be specifically bound to polyadenylate sequences in Dictyostelium hrRNA.