Abstract
Sodium pyrophosphate inhibits synthesis of anticomplementary DNA during a reverse transcriptase (RNA-directed DNA nucleotidyltransferase, EC 2.7.7.7) [from avian myeloblastosis virus] catalyzed reaction. In the presence of pyrophosphate, the complementary DNA remains stably complexed to the RNA template. In the absence of pyrophosphate, the DNA .cntdot. RNA hybrid template is degraded and anticomplementary DNA is synthesized. High concentrations of additives containing phosphodiester bonds appear to inhibit the RNase H activity (hybrid nuclease, EC 3.1.4.34) of the reverse transcriptase, thereby preventing formation of RNA primers necessary for the synthesis of anticomplementary DNA. [Poliovirus RNA and phage f1 DNA were used].