Characterization of the end groups of RNA of Rous sarcoma virus

The 3' terminus of the 30-35S RNA of Rous sarcoma virus is adenosine. Its amount indicates an average molecular weight for that RNA of about 3 x 10(6). The 5' terminus of 30-35S RNA of Rous sarcoma virus was not di- or triphosphorylated, whether isolated by the standard procedure or from virus collected within 3 min of its release from the cells.