Abstract
1. The effects of various ions on the Mg2+- and Mn2+/ammonium sulphate-activated RNA polymerase activities of isolated liver nuclei were studied. 2. The Mg2+-activated RNA polymerase reaction was inhibited by more than 60% by Cd2+, SeO32−, Be2+, Cu2+, Co2+, Ca2+ and La3+, all at 1mm concentrations. 3. The Mn2+/ammonium sulphate-activated RNA polymerase reaction was strongly inhibited by Hg2+, Cd2+, Cu2+ and Ag+. The effect of Hg2+, Cd2+ and Ag+ was relieved by cysteine or mercaptoethanol. 4. Inhibition by Cu2+ was not affected by addition of DNA, and was relieved only partially by EDTA or histidine. 5. No changes of RNA polymerase activities were observed in nuclei isolated from the liver of rats treated with copper albuminate.