A Phosphodiesterase from Ascites Carcinoma Krebs II Cells Specifically Cleaves the Bond between VPg and RNA of Encephalomyocarditis Virus

A. Yu. Gulevich, R. A. Yusupova, and Yu. F. Drygin^*

Belozersky Institute of Physico-Chemical Biology, Lomonosov Moscow State University, Moscow, 119899 Russia; fax: (095) 939-3181; E-mail: drygin@genebee.msu.su

^* To whom correspondence should be addressed.

Received October 30, 2000; Revision received November 23, 2000

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The substrate specificity of the “unlinking” enzyme from ascite carcinoma Krebs II cells has been investigated. The enzyme specifically splits the interpolymeric phosphodiester bond between Kp and the 5´-terminal phosphate group of the uridylic acid residue in the Kp-pUpUpGp complex.

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Key words: picornavirus, VPg-RNA, “unlinking” enzyme, substrate specificity, phosphodiesterase

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