A primer ribonucleic acid for initiation of in vitro Rous sarcarcoma virus deoxyribonucleic acid synthesis

The nucleotide sequence of an RNA primer molecule for initiation of Rous sarcoma virus DNA synthesis in vitro has been determined. The sequence can be drawn in a cloverleaf structure typical of tRNAs with an anticodon for tryptophan. Aminoacylation of the molecule confirms that it is tRNA-Trp. The same sequence and aminoacylation results are obtained regardless of whether the RNA is isolated from virions or from cells of chickens, the natural host for this virus. It is the only species of tRNA-Trp that is dectected in chicked cell tRNA.