FORMATION OF 2'-MONONUCLEOTIDES FROM RNA BY TEA LEAF RIBONUCLEASE-2

A characteristic ribonuclease (RNase 2) was partially purified from the extracts of tea leaves by means of column chromatography on DEAE-cellulose and Sephadex G-100. By the action of this enzyme, yeast RNA gave three kinds of 2'-mononucleotides (2'-AMP, 2'-GMP and 2'-TJMP) together with oligonucleotides, and accumulation of intermediate 2', 3'-cyclic nucleotides was not detected in the hydrolysate. However, it was found that four kinds of 2', 3'-cyclic nucleotides were very rapidly hydrolyzed to the 2'-nucleotides and cleavage rate of the phosphodiester linkage of 2',3'-cyclic AMP was 250 times grater than that of adenylyl-(3'⇒5')-adenosine. From the properties of the RNase 2, it is considered that 2'-nucleotides in black tea are produced by the action of this enzyme. © 1979, Japan Society for Bioscience, Biotechnology, and Agrochemistry. All rights reserved.