RIBONUCLEIC ACID-POLYPHOSPHATE FROM ALGAE II. PHYSICAL AND CHEMICAL PROPERTIES OF THE ISOLATED COMPLEXES1

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Abstract
The properties of RNA-polyphosphate isolated from Anabaena or synchronously grown Chlorella were examined. Changes in these properties at intervals in the life cycle of Chlorella were studied by the metachromatic reaction for polyphosphate, acid-labile phosphorus, ultraviolet absorption, enzymatic digestion, and charcoal adsorption. These analyses were made before and after exhaustive dialysis against distilled water. Before dialysis the polyphosphate gave little metachromatic reaction. Denaturation, induced by dialysis, released the polyphosphate chains for the metachromatic reaction, but the polyphosphate still was not dialyzable. Dialysis against salt caused no denaturation. Alkaline hydrolysis reduced specific metachrernasy without releasing orthaphosphate. Yeast polyphosphatase destroyed RNA-polyphosphate metachromasy without releasing much polyphosphate for dialysis. These properties of the RNA-polyphosphate indicate that both weak bonding and covalent linkages may be involved in the union of the two substances. Each DEAE-cellulose fraction of RNA-polyphosphate changed in properties during stages of synchronous Chlorella growth. RNA-polyphosphate in the three areas eluted by highest salt concentration exhibited the most striking characteristics for linkage by both weak and covalent bonds during the first 9-hr of algae growth when these complexes were being synthesized.

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