Synthesis of DNA polymerase by in vitro translation of calf RNA

Synthesis of alpha-polymerase in translation mixtures containing calf thymus poly(A+) RNA was examined by activity gel analysis and by immuno-binding with a monoclonal antibody to calf thymus alpha-polymerase. Activity gel analysis indicated that a DNA polymerase catalytic polypeptide of Mr = approximately 120,000 had been synthesized. Immunobinding experiments indicated that an immunoreactive polypeptide of about the same size had been formed in vitro. Sucrose gradient centrifugation of calf thymus total RNA revealed that mRNA encoding the approximately 120,000-Mr DNA polymerase polypeptide sedimented at about 16S. This approximately 120,000-Mr catalytic polypeptide corresponds in size to an alpha-polymerase catalytic polypeptide found earlier in crude extracts of calf cells.