[Autolytic degradation of RNA; the effect of various factors on the dynamics of the process]

As found earlier RNA preparations from different eukaryotic tissues followed by thorough deproteinization contain "masked" RNases, that cause autolytic degradation. The present paper indicates that the autolytic degradation of a deproteinized preparation of RNA from Ehrlich's cells by gel electrophoresis under denaturated conditions and ultracentrifugation in sucrose gradient is submitted by definite regularities and is essentially dependent on the concentration change of Mg2+, Na+, K+, NH4+ ions and also GTP and guanosine. It is proposed the activity of "masked" RNases is the manifestation of ribozyme properties of RNA molecules. Similar processes may take place in processing and catabolism of RNA in vivo.