[Study of ribonucleoprotein particles by the method of RNA chromatography on a column of nucleoprotein-celite]

A novel method of RNA fractionation based on a gradual release of the RNA molecules from ribonucleoprotein complexes has been used for the analysis of ribosomal and non-ribosomal complexes of rat liver cytoplasm. Adsorption of native ribonucleoproteins on a Celite column (occuring through only the protein moiety) followed by a consequent dissociation of RNP complexes brought about by various agents results in RNA fractionation in accordance with the tightness of the RNA-protein bonds. The cytoplasmic ribosomal and rapidly labelled non-ribosomal RNA species are separated into several fractions identified as 18S and 28S rRNA's, mRNA and messenger-like RNA. A relatively small fraction (about 10% of the total) of rRNA tenaciously bound to protein has been also revealed.