Evidence for common nucleotide sequences in the RNA subunits comprising Rous sarcoma virus 70 S RNA

Digestion of Rous sarcoma virus 32P-labeled high molecular-weight RNA with T 1 ribonuclease resulted in the release of approximately 30 unique large oligonucleotides which were resolved by electrophoresis and chromatography on thin layers of cellulose and DEAE-cellulose. Determination of the radioactivity present in each oligonucleotide of known chain length and in the remaining digestion products made it possible to estimate the total number of residues expected in a polynucleotide chain containing the sequences represented. The oligonucleotides are present in amounts greater than would be expected for a unique and nonrepetitive 70 S RNA molecule with a molecular weight of 1 × 10 7. Many of the sequences must, therefore, be present in more than one of the 35 S RNA subunits comprising the 70 S RNA.