Biomaterial Database

Mycoplasmas produce double-stranded ribonuclease. 1990

P I Marcus, and I Yoshida

Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of Connecticut, Storrs 06269-3044.

Mycoplasmas (Mollicutes) constitute a constant threat as insidious contaminants of animal cell cultures. They are responsible for myriad biochemical reactions associated with the cells they infect, and undoubtedly have been the source of metabolic and physiological activities attributed to their hosts. In an attempt to demonstrate a dsRNA-inducible double-stranded ribonuclease (dsRNase) in mammalian cells, comparable to that reported in avian cells, we discovered high levels of dsRNase "induced" by a particular stock of vesicular stomatitis virus. We now report that the double-stranded ribonuclease resulted from the activity of a contaminant in that stock--a "noncultivable" Mycoplasma hyorhinis. This report demonstrates the ubiquitous distribution of dsRNase among mycoplasmas, presents some characteristics of the enzyme and its production, and implicates once again mycoplasmas as contaminants of cell culture and potential perturbers of cellular physiology.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D009174	Mycoplasma	A genus of gram-negative, mostly facultatively anaerobic bacteria in the family MYCOPLASMATACEAE. The cells are bounded by a PLASMA MEMBRANE and lack a true CELL WALL. Its organisms are pathogens found on the MUCOUS MEMBRANES of humans, ANIMALS, and BIRDS.	Eperythrozoon,Haemobartonella,Mycoplasma putrefaciens,PPLO,Pleuropneumonia-Like Organisms,Pleuropneumonia Like Organisms
D002478	Cells, Cultured	Cells propagated in vitro in special media conducive to their growth. Cultured cells are used to study developmental, morphologic, metabolic, physiologic, and genetic processes, among others.	Cultured Cells,Cell, Cultured,Cultured Cell
D000818	Animals	Unicellular or multicellular, heterotrophic organisms, that have sensation and the power of voluntary movement. Under the older five kingdom paradigm, Animalia was one of the kingdoms. Under the modern three domain model, Animalia represents one of the many groups in the domain EUKARYOTA.	Animal,Metazoa,Animalia
D012260	Ribonucleases	Enzymes that catalyze the hydrolysis of ester bonds within RNA. EC 3.1.-.	Nucleases, RNA,RNase,Acid Ribonuclease,Alkaline Ribonuclease,Ribonuclease,RNA Nucleases,Ribonuclease, Acid,Ribonuclease, Alkaline
D014721	Vesicular stomatitis Indiana virus	The type species of VESICULOVIRUS causing a disease symptomatically similar to FOOT-AND-MOUTH DISEASE in cattle, horses, and pigs. It may be transmitted to other species including humans, where it causes influenza-like symptoms.	Vesicular stomatitis-Indiana virus