RNA polymerases of maize: nuclear RNA polymerases

Abstract

Two DNA-dependent RNA polymerases of nuclear origin have been purified from leaves of Zea mays. The two enzymes can be separated on DEAE-cellulose columns. Enzymes I and II are eluted with 0.08 and 0.20 M (NH(4))(2)SO(4), respectively. Both enzymes prefer maize nuclear DNA as a template; they are also more active in the presence of Mg(++) than Mn(++) and are inhibited by (NH(4))(2)-SO(4) or KCl. Neither enzyme is inhibited by rifamycin SV. Enzyme II is strongly inhibited by alpha-amanitin, whereas enzyme I is not significantly affected. Their ability to use native and denatured DNA as templates varies according to the extent and method of purification of the polymerase. Furthermore, enzyme II can be resolved by DEAE-chromatography or glycerol-gradient centrifugation into two components, one of which prefers native DNA, while the other prefers denatured DNA.