A protein cofactor that stimulates the activity of DNA-dependent RNA polymerase I on double-stranded DNA

Partially purified rat liver RNA polymerase I chromatographed on ribosomal RNA-Sepharose loses most (96%) of its activity assayed on native calf-thymus DNA templates, but loses little (8%) of its activity assayed on poly(deoxycytidylic acid) template. Polymerase I is not stimulated by polymerase II protein factor, or by bovine serum albumin. However, it is stimulated by histones, polylysine, and spermine. Addition of a protein fraction eluted by high ionic strength from the rRNA-Sepharose also restores activity on native calf-thymus DNA. Further purification yields a fraction containing two proteins of 11 000 and 12 000 molecular weight. Both proteins are distinct from histones by electrophoresis in sodium dodecyl sulfate and in acid urea. Both proteins are basic, insensitive to heat, bind to DNA, and stimulate polymerase I activity. The degree of stimulation of polymerase I is dependent upon both the enzyme/DNA and the factor/DNA ratio. The protein factors also stimulate polymerase II activity about half as effectively as polymerase I.