RNA instructed DNA polymerase activity in a cytoplasmic particulate fraction in brains from Guamanian patients

Abstract

Nervous system tissues from a number of patients with idiopathic neurological disorders were examined for biochemical evidence of RNA tumor virus infection. RNase sensitive DNA polymerase activity was found in a cytoplasmic particulate fraction from two patients with Guamanian ALS but not in brains from two normal individuals. The early (5 min) endogenous reverse transcriptase product was analyzed by cesium sulfate gradient centrifugation. RNase and heat sensitive RNA DNA hybrids were detected in the product analysis of two ALS, one PD brain, and two brains from asymptomatic Chamorros but not in brains from normal American individuals and a number of patients with neuro psychiatric disorders. The DNA product was a 4.5S heteropolymer that hybridized more extensively to RNA extracted from the enzyme containing pellet from PD brain as compared to a similar fraction from normal American brains. The DNA product appeared to be unrelated to Rauscher or visna virus 7OS as determined by RNA ( 3H)DNA hybridization.