In vitro synthesis of RNA that contains polyadenylate by virion-associated RNA polymerase of vesicular stomatitis virus

The RNA synthesized in vitro by the virion-associated RNA-instructed RNA polymerase of purified vesicular stomatitis virus contains polyadenylate sequences. These have been demonstrated by their partial resistance to pancreatic and T(1) ribonucleases and their capacity to bind to poly(U) filters and oligo(dT)-cellulose. The polyadenylate sequences range in apparent size from 50 to 200 bases, similar to the size of the poly(A) in mRNA from vesicular stomatitis virus-infected cells. Possible mechanisms of polyadenylylation of the in vitro RNA product are discussed.