De novo biosynthesis of an enzymatically active precursor form of bovine pancreatic RNase

The de novo biosynthesis of RNase (ribonucleate 3'-pyrimidino-oligonucleotidohydrolase, EC 3.1.4.22) was studied in a cell-free rabbit reticulocyte translation system using a polyadenylylated fraction of mRNA isolated from bovine pancreas. Analysis of the [35S]methionine-labeled translation products of pancreas mRNA by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis indicated the presence of several proteins, one of which corresponded to 16,500 daltons, or approximately 2800 daltons greater than native RNase A. This protein was specifically precipitated from the mixture of products by anti-RNase antibodies. Partial sequence determination of the NH2-terminal region of the anti-RNase antibody-precipitable species indicated that it is a precursor form of RNase A with 25 additional amino acids on its NH2 terminus. The precursor nature of the protein was confirmed by demonstration that a mixture of RNase A and a glycosylated form of the enzyme, RNase B, is formed when translation of the mRNA is conducted in the presence of dog pancreas membranes. Assay of the putative precursor form of RNase for catalytic activity with polycytidylic acid as substrate indicated that the protein has a specific enzymatic activity identical to that of native RNase A.