Biomaterial Database

The structure of ribonucleoprotein particles from rat liver nuclei. 1981

P C Heinrich, and W Northemann

During or immediately after transcription of chromatin the high molecular weight pre-mRNA is complexes with proteins and low molecular weight RNA (lmwRNA). In the presence of a cytosolic RNase inhibitor pre-mRNA-protein complexes, designated as polyparticles, can be isolated from rat liver nuclei. The polyparticles are characterized by a maximum of their sedimentation coefficient of around 90 S, a protein to RNA ratio of 4.1, and a density in CsCl of 1.4 g/cm3. A set of 6--10 basic proteins of molecular weights between 30 and 45 kd as well as a multitude of polypeptides of higher molecular weights is associated with the rapidly labeled, polydisperse, high molecular weight RNA and several lmwRNA species. In order to study the structure of these very complex nuclear RNP complexes, the polyparticles were incubated at various concentrations of sodium chloride, urea or proteinases of different specificities (trypsin, chymotrypsin, proteinase K), recentrifuged through a sucrose layer and analyzed with respect to their sedimentation behavior, their protein to RNA ratios and their protein- and RNA components. Rhe results of these experiments led us to the proposal of a structural model which is presented here.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D008099	Liver	A large lobed glandular organ in the abdomen of vertebrates that is responsible for detoxification, metabolism, synthesis and storage of various substances.	Livers
D008958	Models, Molecular	Models used experimentally or theoretically to study molecular shape, electronic properties, or interactions; includes analogous molecules, computer-generated graphics, and mechanical structures.	Molecular Models,Model, Molecular,Molecular Model
D009690	Nucleic Acid Conformation	The spatial arrangement of the atoms of a nucleic acid or polynucleotide that results in its characteristic 3-dimensional shape.	DNA Conformation,RNA Conformation,Conformation, DNA,Conformation, Nucleic Acid,Conformation, RNA,Conformations, DNA,Conformations, Nucleic Acid,Conformations, RNA,DNA Conformations,Nucleic Acid Conformations,RNA Conformations
D009694	Nucleic Acid Precursors	Use for nucleic acid precursors in general or for which there is no specific heading.	Acid Precursors, Nucleic,Precursors, Nucleic Acid
D009698	Nucleoproteins	Proteins conjugated with nucleic acids.	Nucleoprotein
D010450	Endopeptidases	A subclass of PEPTIDE HYDROLASES that catalyze the internal cleavage of PEPTIDES or PROTEINS.	Endopeptidase,Peptide Peptidohydrolases
D002467	Cell Nucleus	Within a eukaryotic cell, a membrane-limited body which contains chromosomes and one or more nucleoli (CELL NUCLEOLUS). The nuclear membrane consists of a double unit-type membrane which is perforated by a number of pores; the outermost membrane is continuous with the ENDOPLASMIC RETICULUM. A cell may contain more than one nucleus. (From Singleton & Sainsbury, Dictionary of Microbiology and Molecular Biology, 2d ed)	Cell Nuclei,Nuclei, Cell,Nucleus, Cell
D002499	Centrifugation, Density Gradient	Separation of particles according to density by employing a gradient of varying densities. At equilibrium each particle settles in the gradient at a point equal to its density. (McGraw-Hill Dictionary of Scientific and Technical Terms, 4th ed)	Centrifugations, Density Gradient,Density Gradient Centrifugation,Density Gradient Centrifugations,Gradient Centrifugation, Density,Gradient Centrifugations, Density
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
D012261	Ribonucleoproteins	Complexes of RNA-binding proteins with ribonucleic acids (RNA).	Ribonucleoprotein