Determination of the length distribution of poly(A) at the 3' terminus of the virion RNAs of EMC virus, poliovirus, rhinovirus, RAV-61 and CPMV and of mouse globin mRNA.

Rapid, detailed, and accurate analysis of the length spectrum of 3' terminal poly(A) in an RNA population can be obtained by 3'-terminal 32P-labelling of RNA with T4 RNA ligase, digestion with ribonucleases T1 and A, and use of gel sequencing methods. Length distributions of 3'-terminal poly(A) of EMC virus, poliovirus, rhinovirus, RAV-61, and CPMV virion RNAs as well as mouse globin mRNA are presented.