Purification of a base-specific ribonuclease Ru from Rhizopus niveus

A base-specific ribonuclease (RNase) Ru (EC 3.1.27.5) was isolated and purified from Rhizopus niveus in a yield of 17% by the procedures of acetone precipitation, column chromatography on Duolite A-2, DEAE-cellulose, CM-cellulose, and 2'(3')-aminohexyl-5'-UMP-agarose. The enzyme was shown to be homogeneous by polyacrylamide disc electrophoresis. The amino- and carboxyl-terminal amino acids of the enzyme were determined to be an arginine and an aspartic acid, respectively. The enzyme has a base specificity: it released only 3'-UMP from yeast RNA or poly(U) and, in addition, small amounts of 3'-CMP from poly(C).