Double-stranded RNA-dependent protein kinase and 2-5A system are both activated in interferon-treated, encephalomyocarditis virus-infected HeLa cells.

Activation of the interferon-inducible, double-stranded RNA-dependent protein kinase was monitored in monolayer cultures of control and interferon-treated HeLa cells infected with encephalomyocarditis virus. The extent of phosphorylation in the intact cell of the alpha-subunit of eucaryotic protein synthesis initiation factor eIF2 by the kinase was determined for the first time in this type of system, using a two-dimensional immunoblot technique. Virus protein synthesis and the kinetics of activation of the ppp(A2'p)nA (n greater than or equal to 2) system were analyzed in parallel. Enhanced phosphorylation of eIF2-alpha was obvious at 9 h and increased by 12 h postinfection. ppp(A2'p)nA and ppp(A2'p)nA-mediated rRNA cleavage were observed from 6 h. No viral protein synthesis was detected in cells in which a general inhibition of protein synthesis developed with time. It can be concluded that both the kinase and ppp(A2'p)nA system are active in interferon-treated, encephalomyocarditis virus-infected HeLa cells.     

The ppp(A2'p)nA and protein kinase systems in wild-type and interferon-resistant Daudi cells

Daudi cells, a human lymphoblastoid line, are exceptionally sensitive to the growth inhibitory effects of interferon, 1 unit/ml being sufficient to inhibit cell growth. In addition, interferon treatment of these cells severely inhibits the incorporation of exogenous thymidine into DNA and causes cells to accumulate in the G1(G0) at the expense of the S phase of the cell cycle. The possible involvement of ppp(A2'p)nA(n = 2 to less than or equal to 4) in these effects has been investigated. No (less than 1 nM) ppp(A2'p)nA or (A2'p)nA or alternative products of the ppp(A2'p)nA synthetase [e.g. NAD (2'pA)2] were detected in interferon-treated cells. In addition no evidence was obtained for the occurrence of ppp(A2'p)nA-mediated ribosomal RNA cleavage in these cells even after several days of treatment with relatively high doses of interferon. A line of Daudi cells which is resistant to all three of the above effects of interferon was selected. The wild type and resistant lines were compared with respect to the ppp(A2'p)nA and interferon and double-stranded RNA (dsRNA)-mediated protein kinase systems. The resistant line was not receptor-negative as it responded to interferon by the production of elevated levels of the ppp(A2'p)nA synthetase similar to those observed in extracts from wild-type cells. There was no detectable difference between the lines in the levels of the (2'-5')phosphodiesterase responsible for the degradation of ppp(A2'p)nA. There was, however, about a twofold increase in the ppp(A2'p)nA-dependent endoribonuclease activity in response to interferon with extracts from the wild-type but not the resistant cells. In addition, although the dsRNA-dependent protein kinase activity increased in both types of cell there was a striking reduction in the level of protein phosphorylation in general in response to interferon with material from the wild-type but not the resistant cells.     

Ribosomal RNA cleavage, nuclease activation and 2-5A(ppp(A2''p)nA) in interferon-treated cells.

Ribosomal RNA (rRNA) in intact ribosomes is cleaved into discrete products on incubation of reticulocyte lysates or L-cell extracts with ppp(A2'p)3A. Cleavage of rRNA may, therefore, provide a useful assay for 2-5A (ppp)A2'p)nA; n = 2 to 4) or for the presence of a 2-5A-dependent nuclease. The results with reticulocyte lysates differed from those obtained in the L-cell-free system in that (a) a different RNA cleavage pattern was produced (with added L-cell ribosomes) and (b) cleavage was fully activated by the analogue ppp(A2'p)3A3'pCp. As might be expected from the relatively high levels of 2-5A present in interferon-treated, encephalomyocarditis virus (EMC)-infected L-cells, rRNA extracted from these cells was also cleaved. The cleavage pattern observed overlapped with that obtained on incubation of an L-cell-free system with 2-5A. Thus, not only is 2-5A present, but the 2-5A-dependent nuclease also appears to be active, in interferon-treated, EMC-infected L-cells.     

rRNA cleavage as an index of ppp(A2''p)nA activity in interferon-treated encephalomyocarditis virus-infected cells.

In cell-free systems, 2-5A [ppp(A2'p)nA, n = 2 to greater than or equal to 4] activates a latent endoribonuclease, the 2-5A-dependent RNase, which cleaves rRNA in intact ribosomes into discrete and characteristic products (D. H. Wreschner et al., Nucleic Acids Res. 9:1571-1581, 1981). Here we present Northern blots which have identified the 18S or 28S origins of the cleaved products from rRNA. In addition, identical 3' termini were observed for fragments of 18S rRNA from a HeLa cell-free system incubated with 2-5A and from interferon-treated, encephalomyocarditis virus-infected HeLa cells. The previous assumption of identity of such fragments was based only on comigration on electrophoresis in agarose gels. We conclude that appropriate patterns of cleavage found in RNA isolated from intact cells are an indicator of prior 2-5A-dependent RNase activity. The assay of rRNA cleavage is relatively convenient and unambiguous. Accordingly, in the search for situations in which the 2-5A system may be active, it provides a useful alternative to the direct assay of 2-5A.     

Use of a 2-5A analogue probe for detecting RNA ligase and RNA ligase substrates in mammalian cell extracts

The compound ppp(A2'p)3A3'[32P]pCp is a commercially available radioactive analogue of the 2',5' oligoadenylate series ppp(A2'p)nA, n greater than or equal to 2, commonly referred to as 2-5A. It is used as a probe for measuring concentrations in competition radiobinding and radioimmune assays. We have found that incubation of the probe with extracts from HeLa, CV1, or neuroblastoma cells results in its covalent attachment to two size classes of RNA: the first includes a major species with a molecular weight of approximately 350,000, the second is much smaller (40 +/- 5 nucleotides in length) and could represent tRNA half-molecules. Ligation is to the 3' end of the probe molecule with formation of a 3',5'-phosphodiester bond. Thus, probe ligation provides a sensitive and convenient assay for the detection not only of RNA ligase(s) but also of ligatable RNAs (such as the putative tRNA half-molecules) in mammalian cell extracts.     

Analogue inhibitor of 2-5A action: effect on the interferon-mediated inhibition of encephalomyocarditis virus replication.

Chemically synthesised CH3Sp(A2'p)2A2'pp3'OCH3 has been used to assess the importance of the ppp(A2'p)nA (n greater than or equal to 2: 2-5A) system in the antiviral action of interferon against encephalomyocarditis virus (EMC). It inhibits activation of the 2-5A-dependent RNase by 2-5A in intact mouse L929 cells and cell-free systems. In interferon-treated, EMC-infected L929 cells it inhibits 2-5A-mediated rRNA cleavage and partially restores EMC RNA synthesis and virus yield. Activation of the 2-5A-dependent RNase must, therefore, play some part in interferon action against the growth of EMC virus in such cells.     

Affinity labelling and characterization of the ppp(A2'p)nA-dependent endoribonuclease from different mammalian sources

The ppp(A2'p)nA-dependent endoribonucleases from a number of different mammalian sources have been investigated. The enzyme from reticulocyte lysates shows optimal activity of 50-150 mM KCl and requires the presence of Mg2+. Whilst the enzyme is inactivated after passage of reticulocyte lysates through Sephadex columns in the absence of ATP, it retains full activity provided ATP is included in the column buffer. The activity of the partially purified nuclease was unaffected by the addition of reticulocyte RNase inhibitor, which, in contrast, effectively inhibited other endogenous endonucleases. The ppp(A2'p)nA-dependent Rnase co-purified with a ppp(A2'p)nA-binding protein and with a protein which could be specifically covalently labelled with an oxidised radioactive analogue of ppp(A2'p)nA. This covalent labelling could be carried out either with the partially purified RNase or in crude extracts from rabbit reticulocytes, mouse Krebs and Ehrlich ascites tumour cells and human lymphoblastoid (Daudi) or HeLa cells. In each case the affinity labelled protein migrated to a position corresponding to a apparent molecular weight of about 85 000 on electrophoresis on dodecylsulphate/polyacrylamide gels. In all cases labelling could be prevented by the addition of an excess of unlabelled ppp(A2'p)nA but not, for example, by a similar excess of the biologically inactive dimer ppp(A2'p)'A. It is concluded that the RNase and ppp(A2'p)nA binding activities are likely to reside in the same molecule.     

Intracellular metabolism of the interferon mediator, 2-5A, using permeabilized cells

2-5A synthetase and 2'-phosphodiesterase, the enzymatic activities which respectively synthesize and degrade the interferon mediator 2-5A (ppp(A2'p)nA), were studied in digitonin-permeabilized cells. 2-5A synthetase was higher in permeabilized than in lysed Daudi cells. Mouse L cells appeared to contain two different 2-5A synthetase activities, one of which could be separated from 2'-phosphodiesterase activity, which was only cytosolic. Permeabilization techniques offer opportunities to investigate (2',5')-oligoadenylate intracellular metabolism, which remains incompletely known.     

Synthesis and biological activity of 5'-capped derivatives of 5'-triphosphoadenylyl(2'----5')adenylyl(2'----5')adenosine

The oligonucleotides A5'pp5'A2'p5'A2'p5'A and A5'ppp5'A2'p5'A2'p5'A were prepared by reaction of AMP or ADP, respectively, with the 5'-(phosphoimidazolidate) of A2'p5'A2'p5'A. A5'pppp5'A2'(p5'A)n (n = 1-3) were synthesized by reaction of p5'A2'(p5'A)n (n = 1-3) with adenosine 5'-trimetaphosphate. All structures were confirmed by enzyme digestion and 1H and 31P nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR). The products A5'pppp5'A2'p5'A and A5'pppp5'A2'p5'A2'p5'A were found to be identical with two of the products of the 2-5A synthetase catalyzed reaction of Ap4A with ATP, thus confirming the structural assignments made by earlier investigators. In extracts of mouse L cells programmed with encephalomyocarditis virus RNA, A5'pppp5'A2'p5'A2'p5'A2'p5'A and A5'pppp5'A2'p5'A2'p5'A were equipotent with 2-5A itself as inhibitors of translation. The oligomers A5'ppp5'A2'p5'A2'p5'A and A2'pppp5'A2'p5'A were about 100 times less active than 2-5A, and A5'pp5'A2'p5'A2'p5'A was without translational inhibitory activity. When affinity for the 2-5A-dependent endonuclease was determined (by displacement of 2-5A[32P]pCp from endonuclease), all of the analogues, as well as 2-5A itself, had similar affinities for the endonuclease except for A5'pppp5'A2'p5'A, which was bound approximately 100 times less effectively. Under conditions of the radiobinding assay, A5'pppp5'A2'p5'A2'p5'A was degraded (t1/2 = 2 h) to ATP, ADP, AMP, ppp5'A2'p5'A2'p5'A, and p5'A2'p5'A2'p5'A.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Photochemical crosslinking in oligonucleotide-protein complexes between a bromine-substituted 2-5A analog and 2-5A-dependent RNase by ultraviolet lamp or laser

2',5'-oligoadenylates known as 2-5A [px(A2'p)nA; chi = 2 or 3, n greater than or equal to 2] are produced in interferon-treated cells in response to double-stranded RNA. 2-5A binds with high affinity to a 2-5A-dependent RNase resulting in the cleavage of single-stranded RNA. An efficient, rapid, and extremely sensitive photoaffinity labeling method was developed to facilitate detection of 2-5A-dependent RNase. A bromine-substituted and radioactive derivative of 2-5A, the 5'-monophosphate, p(A2'p)2(br8A2'p)2A3'-[32P]Cp, was synthesized as probe for 2-5A-dependent RNase. Even though this bromine-substituted analog of 2-5A bore no 5'-terminal triphosphate or diphosphate, it bound to 2-5A-dependent RNase with the same high affinity as did 2-5A per se but it was a less effective activator of the RNase under the present assay conditions. The presence of bromine atoms in the 2-5A analog enhanced by more than 200-fold crosslinking to 2-5A-dependent RNase under a uv lamp; many additional polypeptides were also labeled but at much lower levels. Furthermore, using high-intensity uv laser irradiation (308 nm) covalent attachment of the bromine-substituted 2-5A analog to 2-5A-dependent RNase was readily achieved within 10(-6) s.     

Activation of the ppp(A2'p)nA system in interferon-treated, herpes simplex virus-infected cells and evidence for novel inhibitors of the ppp(A2'p)nA-dependent RNase

High doses (100-1000 reference units/ml) of alpha or beta interferons are required to inhibit the growth of herpes simplex virus types I and II (HSV-I and HSV-II) in human Chang cells. In contrast, much lower doses (10-100 reference units/ml) of interferon inhibit replication of encephalomyocarditis virus (EMCV) in these cells. In the HSV-infected cells these high doses did not prevent the virus-induced shut off of host protein synthesis. The interferons were more effective in reducing the virus yield of HSV-I than of HSV-II. At the above concentrations they inhibited HSV-I protein synthesis but had little apparent effect on that of HSV-II. Similar amounts of (2'-5')oligo(adenylate)s were synthesised in response to HSV-I, HSV-II and EMCV infection of Chang cells after treatment with alpha or beta interferons. No (i.e. less than 1 nM) (2'-5')oligo(adenylate)s were found in control cells or on virus infection alone. Only low levels of ppp(A2'p)nA-specific rRNA cleavage were observed in the interferon-treated HSV-infected cells. In contrast, high levels were found in response to EMCV, despite the fact that ppp(A2'p)nA accumulated to similar levels with each of the three viruses in these cells. High-performance liquid chromatographic analysis of material from interferon-treated Chang cells 18 h after infection with HSV-I or HSV-II, combined with radiobinding, radioimmune and rRNA cleavage assays, confirmed the presence of ppp(A2'p)2A and ppp(A2'p)3A at greater than nanomolar concentration. In addition, apparently equivalent amounts of two other putative (2'-5')oligo(adenylate) derivatives which compete in the radiobinding and radioimmune assays, were present. These compounds were only weak activators of the ppp(A2'p)nA-dependent RNase and under appropriate conditions were capable of inhibiting the activation of this RNase by authentic ppp(A2'p)nA. The presence of these potentially inhibitory compounds provides a possible explanation for the relatively low levels of activation of the ppp(A2'p)nA-dependent RNase in interferon-treated, HSV-infected Chang cells.     

Synthesis and biological activity of tubercidin analogues of ppp5'A2'p(5'A2'p)n5'A

A series of tubercidin (7-deazaadenosine) analogues of 2-5A of the general formula p5'(c7A)2'p[5'(c7A)-2'p]n5'(c7A) (n = 0-5) were prepared by lead ion catalyzed polymerization of the 5'-phosphoroimidazolidate of tubercidin. Through the corresponding imidazolidates, these oligonucleotide 5'-monophosphates were converted to the 5'-triphosphates. All reported structures were corroborated by enzyme digestion and 1H or 31P nuclear magnetic resonance. When evaluated for its ability to bind to the 2-5 A-dependent endonuclease of mouse L cells, the tubercidin analogue of trimeric 2-5A, namely, ppp5'(c7A)2'p5'(c7A)2'p5'(c7A), and the corresponding tetramer were bound as effectively as 2-5A itself; nonetheless, it and the corresponding tetramer, ppp5'-(c7A)2'p5'(c7A)2'p5'(c7A)2'p5'(c7A), failed to stimulate the 2-5A-dependent endonuclease as judged by its inability to inhibit translation in extracts of mouse L cells programmed with encephalomyocarditis virus RNA and to give rise to ribosomal RNA cleavage in the same cell system under conditions where 2-5A showed activity at 10(-9) M. The trimer, ppp5'(c7A)2'p5'(c7A)2'p5'(c7A), was an antagonist of 2-5A action in the L cell extract. In the lysed rabbit reticulocyte system, both the trimeric and tetrameric tubercidin 2-5A analogues were bound to the 2-5A-dependent endonuclease as well as 2-5A, but in this case, the tetramer triphosphate, ppp5'(c7A)2'p5'(c7A)2'p5'(c7A)2'p5'(c7A), was just as potent an inhibitor of translation as 2-5A tetramer triphosphate. Moreover, this inhibition was prevented by the established 2-5A antagonist p5'A2'p5'A2'p5'A.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

n-Decyl-NHpppA2'p5'A2'p5'A A phosphatase-resistant, active pppA2'p5'A2'p5'A analog

n-Decyl-NHpppA2'p5'A2'p5'A, a gamma-substituted, phosphatase-resistant pppA2'p5'A2'p5'A analog, gives similar rRNA degradation pattern in interferon-treated HeLa cell extracts--even at a concentration of 10(-9)M--as the natural compound does.     

Activation of 2-5A-dependent RNase by analogs of 2-5A (5'-O-triphosphoryladenylyl(2'----5')adenylyl(2'----5')adenosine ) using 2',5'-tetraadenylate (core)-cellulose

A variety of 2-5A (px(A2'p)nA; x = 2 or 3, n greater than or equal to 2) analogs were assayed for their abilities to activate murine 2-5A-dependent RNase (subsequently "the nuclease") using a recently developed method. This technique consists of immobilizing and partially purifying the nuclease using core-cellulose [A2'p)3A-cellulose) and then monitoring the breakdown of poly(U)-3'-[32P]Cp into acid-soluble fragments. Several 5'-adenosinecapped analogs of 2-5A (containing a tetra-, tri-, or diphosphate) were analyzed, and it was found that reducing the number of phosphoryl groups between the 5' to 5'-diadenosine linkages resulted in a progressive loss of activity. Because A5' pppp(A2'p)3A was a potent activator of the nuclease yet stable during the assay these results suggested that a free 5'-phosphoryl group may not be required for the activation of the nuclease. A number of 8-bromoadenosine-substituted analogs of 2-5A were also studied. Curiously, the brominations decreased the activities of the 5'-di- and triphosphorylated molecules while substantially increasing the activities of the 5'-monophosphorylated species. The results indicated that a tri- or diphosphate moiety on the 5'-end of 2-5A or the presence of ATP is not absolutely required for the nuclease to be active. Furthermore, the ATP analog, beta, gamma-methylene ATP, did not inhibit the activity of the nuclease. Finally, a 3',5'-phosphodiester linkage isomer of 2-5A and a 3'-deoxy (cordycepin) analog of 2-5A were tested, and both were found to be completely without activity.     

Respective role of each of the purine N7 nitrogens of 5'-O-triphosphoadenylyl(2'----5')adenylyl(2'----5')adenosine in binding to and activation of the RNase L of mouse cells

Through a combination of chemical and enzymatic approaches a series of sequence-specific tubercidin-substituted ppp5'A2'p(5'A2'p)n5'A (n = 1 to about 10; 2-5A) analogues were generated. In addition to the previously developed methodology of Imai and Torrence [Imai, J., & Torrence, P.F. (1985) J. Org. Chem. 50, 1418-1420], a new approach to synthesis of 2',5'-linked oligonucleotides utilized adenosine in 3',5' linkage as a precursor to the targeted 5'-terminus of the desired product. For instance, A3'p5'A could be condensed under conditions of lead ion catalysis with tubercidin 5'-phosphate to give A3'p5'A2'p5'(c7A). Treatment with the 3',5'-specific nuclease P1 led to p5'A2'p5'(c7A). The combined use of the above procedures led to the synthesis of p5'(c7A)2'p5'A2'p5'A, p5'A2'p5'(c7A)2'p5'A, p5'A2'p5'A2'p5'(c7A), and p5'A2p5'(c7A)2'p5'(c7A), which were converted to their corresponding 5'-triphosphates by the usual methods. Evaluation of these analogues for their ability to bind to and activate the 2-5A-dependent endonuclease (RNase L) of mouse L cells showed that there were small changes (less than or equal to 10-fold) in the ability of the four tubercidin analogues to bind to RNase L. However, whenever the first and/or third adenosine nucleotide units were replaced by tubercidin, a dramatic decrease in ability to activate RNase L occurred. Only the second (from the 5'-terminus) adenosine residue could be replaced by tubercidin without any effect on RNase L activation ability.     

2',5'-Phosphodiesterase activity depends upon the presence of a 3'-hydroxyl moiety in the penultimate position of the oligonucleotide substrate

3'-Deoxyadenosine (3'dA, cordycepin)-substituted analogs of 2-5A core 5'-monophosphate (p5'A2'p5'A2'p5'A) were examined for their sensitivity toward degradation by the 2'-phosphodiesterase activity in cytoplasmic extracts of mouse L cells. The analogs, p5'(3'dA)-2'p5'A2'p5'A, p5'(3'dA)2'p5'A2'p5'(3'dA) and p5'A2'p5'A2'p5'(3'dA) were degraded at a rate comparable to p5'A2'p5'A2'p5'A itself. On the other hand, under the assay conditions examined p5'A2'p5'(3'dA)2'p5'A, like p5'(3'dA)2'p5'(3'dA)2'p5'(3'dA), was completely resistant to degradation. The data imply that sensitivity to the 2',5'-phosphodiesterase activity of mouse L cells requires the presence of 3'-hydroxyl moiety in the penultimate nucleotide.     

Synthesis, properties and use of beta-alanyltyrosine derivatives of 2',5'-oligoadenylate 5'-triphosphate

beta-Alanyltyrosine methyl ester derivatives of 2-5 A, ppp-(A2'p5') A-beta-Ala-Tyr, were prepared by coupling of periodate oxidizedn2-5 A with beta-alanyltyrosine methyl ester, followed by reduction with sodium cyanoborohydride. The compounds were resistant to the hydrolysis by 2',5'-phosphodiesterase in the mouse L cells extract. They bound to the 2-5 A dependent RNAse (RNAse L) in the mouse L cells extract and in the rabbit reticulocyte lysate, and displaced by addition of 2-5 A. The compound, pppA2'p5'A2'p5'A2'p5'A-beta-Ala-Tyr, after iodination with 125I, was proved to be useful as a radio-labeled probe for the radiobinding assay for 2-5 A.     

2-Methyladenosine-Substituted 2',5'-oligoadenylates: conformations, 2-5A binding and catalytic activities with human ribonuclease L

2-Methyladenosine-substituted analogues of 2-5A, p5'A2'p5'A2'p5'(me2A), p5'(me2A)2'p5'A2'p5'A, and p5'(me2A) 2'p5'(me2A)2'pS'(me2A), were prepared via a modification of a lead ion-catalyzed ligation reaction. These 5'-monophosphates were subsequently converted into the corresponding 5'-triphosphates. Both binding and activation of human recombinant RNase L by various 2-methyladenosine-substituted 2-5A analogues were examined. Among the 2-5A analogues, p5'A2'p5'A2'p5'(me2A) showed the strongest binding affinity and was as effective as 2-5A itself as an activator of RNase L. The CD spectra of both p5'(me2A)2'p5'A2'p5'A and p5'A2'p5'A2'p5'(me2A) were superimposable on that of p5'A2'p5'A2'p5'A, indicative of an anti orientation about the base-glycoside bonds as in naturally occurring 2-5A.     

Purine 8-substitution modulates the ribonuclease L binding and activation abilities of 2',5'-oligoadenylates

Analogues of the 2',5'-linked adenylate trimers monophosphate (p5'A2'p5'A2'p5'A) containing 8-hydroxypropyladenosine, 8-bromoadenosine, and 8-hydroxyadenosine in the first, second, and third nucleotide positions were tested for their ability to bind to and activate RNase L of mouse L cells. p5'AHPr2'p5'AHPr2'p5'AHPr (pAHPr3) (1b) and p5'ABr2'p5'ABr2'p5'ABr (pABr3) (1d) were markedly decreased in ability to bind to the 2-5A dependent endonuclease. On the other hand, analogue of the 2',5'-linked adenylate trimer monophosphate substituted by 8-hydroxyadenosine in the first, second, and third nucleotide position was bound about as well as parent 2-5A [pppA(2'p5'A)2] (p3A3) (1e) to RNase L. Additionally, p5'AOH2'p5'AOH2'p5'AOH (pAOH3) (1c) was as active as parent 2-5A in the rRNA cleavage assay, while pAHPr3 (1b) and pABr3 (1d) were devoid of activity. The 8-substituted analogues of 2-5A were more resistant to the degradation by the (2',5') phosphodiesterase. Finally of particular interest was monophosphate, pAOH3 (1c) which possessed nearly 100% of the translation inhibitory activity of 2-5A triphosphate itself. These results suggest that changes in the base-sugar torsion angles of 2-5A may modulate both binding to and activation of mouse L cell RNase L.     

Degradation by the 2',5'-phosphodiesterase activity of mouse cells requires the presence of a ribo hydroxyl group in the penultimate position of the oligonucleotide substrate

A series of 9-beta-D-xylofuranosyladenine (xyloA or xyloadenosine) substituted analogs of 2-5A core trimer and tetramer were examined for their ability to be degraded by the 2',5'-phosphodiesterase activity of cytoplasmic extracts of mouse L cells. Two distinct groups of xyloA-substituted analogs could be readily discriminated. The first group contained xyloadenosine at the 2'-termini and included A2'p5'A2'p5'(xyloA) and A2'p5'A2'p5'A2'p5'(xyloA). These oligomers behaved as did their parent oligoadenylates in that they were equally sensitive to degradation by the 2',5'-phosphodiesterase activity. The second group of oligonucleotides bore a xyloadenosine residue in the penultimate nucleotide residues of the oligomers and included A2'p5'(xyloA)2'p5'(xyloA), (xyloA)2'p5'(xyloA)2'p5'(xyloA), A2'p5'A2'p5'(xyloA)2'p5'(xyloA) and (xyloA)2'p5' (xyloA)2'p5'(xyloA)2'p5'(xyloA). This group was quite resistant to 2',5'-phosphodiesterase activity. In all, the findings demonstrate that the ribo configuration 3'-hydroxyl group in the penultimate nucleotide of the oligonucleotide substrate is a prerequisite for the 2',5'-phosphodiesterase activity.