X-ray structure of two crystalline forms of a streptomycete ribonuclease with cytotoxic activity

Ribonuclease (RNase) Sa3 is secreted by the Gram-positive bacterium Streptomyces aureofaciens. The enzyme catalyzes the cleavage of RNA on the 3' side of guanosine residues. Here, x-ray diffraction analysis was used to determine the three-dimensional structure of two distinct crystalline forms of RNase Sa3 to a resolution of 2.0 and 1.7 A. These two structures are similar to each other as well as to that of a homolog, RNase Sa. All of the key active-site residues of RNase Sa (Asn(42), Glu(44), Glu(57), Arg(72), and His(88)) are located in the putative active site of RNase Sa3. Also herein, RNase Sa3 is shown to be toxic to human erythroleukemia cells in culture. Like onconase, which is an amphibian ribonuclease in Phase III clinical trials as a cancer chemotherapeutic, RNase Sa3 is not inhibited by the cytosolic ribonuclease inhibitor protein. Thus, a prokaryotic ribonuclease can be toxic to mammalian cells.     

Characterization of the RNA processing enzyme RNase III from wild type and overexpressing Escherichia coli cells in processing natural RNA substrates.

1. A precursor to small stable RNA, 10Sa RNA, accumulates in large amounts in a temperature sensitive RNase E mutant at non-permissive temperatures, and somewhat in an rnc (RNase III-) mutant, but not in an RNase P- mutant (rnp) or wild type E. coli cells. 2. Since p10Sa RNA was not processed by purified RNase E and III in customary assay conditions, we purified p10Sa RNA processing activity about 700-fold from wild type E. coli cells. 3. Processing of p10Sa RNA by this enzyme shows an absolute requirement for a divalent cation with a strong preference for Mn2+ over Mg2+. Other divalent cations could not replace Mn2+. 4. Monovalent cations (NH+4, Na+, K+) at a concentration of 20 mM stimulated the processing of p10Sa RNA and a temperature of 37 degrees C and pH range of 6.8-8.2 were found to be optimal. 5. The enzyme retained half of its p10Sa RNA processing activity after 30 min incubation at 50 degrees C. 6. Further characterization of this activity indicated that it is RNase III. 7. To further confirm that the p10Sa RNA processing activity is RNase III, we overexpressed the RNase III gene in an E. coli cells that lacks RNase III activity (rnc mutant) and RNase III was purified using one affinity column, agarose.poly(I).poly(C). 8. This RNase III preparation processed p10Sa RNA in a similar way as observed using the p10Sa RNA processing activity purified from wild type E. coli cells, confirming that the first step of p10Sa RNA processing is carried out by RNase III.     

Molecular basis for nucleotide-binding specificity: role of the exocyclic amino group "N2" in recognition by a guanylyl-ribonuclease

Proteins interact with nucleotides to perform a multitude of functions within cells. These interactions are highly specific; however, the molecular basis for this specificity is not well understood. To identify factors critical for protein-guanine nucleotide recognition the binding of two closely related ligands, guanosine 3'-monophosphate (3'GMP) and inosine 3'-monophosphate (3'IMP), to Ribonuclease Sa (RNase Sa), a small, guanylyl-endoribonuclease from Streptomyces aureofaciens, was compared using isothermal titration calorimetry, NMR, X-ray crystallography and molecular dynamics simulations. This comparison has allowed for the determination of the contribution of the exocyclic amino group "N2" of the guanine base to nucleotide binding specificity. Calorimetric measurements indicate that RNase Sa has a higher affinity for 3'GMP (K=(1.5+/-0.2)x10(5)) over 3'IMP (K=(3.1+/-0.2)x10(4)) emphasizing the importance of N2 as a key determinant of RNase Sa guanine binding specificity. This result was unexpected as the published structural data for RNase Sa in complex with 3'GMP showed only a potential long-range interaction (>3.3A) between N2 and the side-chain of Glu41 of RNase Sa. The observed difference in affinity is largely due to a reduction in the favorable enthalpy change by 10 kJ/mol for 3'IMP binding as compared to 3'GMP that is accompanied by a significant difference in the heat capacity changes observed for binding the two ligands. To aid interpretation of the calorimetric data, the first crystal structure of a small, guanylyl ribonuclease bound to 3'IMP was determined to 2.0 A resolution. This structure has revealed small yet unexpected changes in the ligand conformation and differences in the conformations of the side-chains contacting the sugar and phosphate moieties as compared to the 3'GMP complex. The structural data suggest the less favorable enthalpy change is due to an overall lengthening of the contacts between RNase Sa and 3'IMP as compared to 3'GMP. The long-range interaction between N2 and Glu41 is critical for positioning of the nucleotide in the binding cleft for optimal contact formation. Thus, combined, the data demonstrate how a long-range interaction can have a significant impact on nucleotide binding affinity and energetics.     

Domain swapping in ribonuclease T1 allows the acquisition of double-stranded activity

A mutant of ribonuclease T1 (RNase T1), denoted RNase Talpha, that is designed to recognize double-stranded ribonucleic acid was created. RNase Talpha carries the structure of RNase T1 except for a part of its loop L3 domain, which has been swapped for a corresponding domain from alpha-sarcin. The RNase Talpha maintains the pleated beta-sheet structure and retains the guanyl-specific ribonuclease activity of the wild-type RNase T1. A steady-state kinetic study on the RNase Talpha-catalyzed transesterification of GpU dinucleoside phosphates reveals a slightly reduced K(m) value of 6.94 x 10(-7) M. When the stranded specificity is examined, RNase Talpha catalyzes the hydrolysis of guanine base not only of single-stranded but also, as by design, of double-stranded RNA. The change of stranded specificity suggests the feasibility of using domain swapping to make a substrate-specific ribonuclease. This study suggests that the loop L3 in RNase T1 can be used as a 'cassette player' for inserting a functional domain to make ribonuclease of various specificities.     

Changing the net charge from negative to positive makes ribonuclease Sa cytotoxic

Ribonuclease Sa (pI = 3.5) from Streptomyces aureofaciens and its 3K (D1K, D17K, E41K) (pI = 6.4) and 5K (3K + D25K, E74K) (pI = 10.2) mutants were tested for cytotoxicity. The 5K mutant was cytotoxic to normal and v-ras-transformed NIH3T3 mouse fibroblasts, but RNase Sa and 3K were not. The structure, stability, and activity of the three proteins are comparable, but the net charge at pH 7 increases from -7 for RNase Sa to -1 for 3K and to +3 for 5K. These results suggest that a net positive charge is a key determinant of ribonuclease cytotoxicity. The cytotoxic 5K mutant preferentially attacks v-ras-NIH3T3 fibroblasts, suggesting that mammalian cells expressing the ras-oncogene are potential targets for ribonuclease-based drugs.     

Cytotoxic potential of ribonuclease and ribonuclease hybrid proteins

Pancreatic RNase injected into Xenopus oocytes abolishes protein synthesis at concentrations comparable to the toxin ricin yet has no effect on oocyte protein synthesis when added to the extracellular medium. Therefore RNase behaves like a potent toxin when directed into a cell. To explore the cytotoxic potential of RNase toward mammalian cells, bovine pancreatic ribonuclease A was coupled via a disulfide bond to human transferrin or antibodies to the transferrin receptor. The RNase hybrid proteins were cytotoxic to K562 human erythroleukemia cells in vitro with an IC50 around 10(-7) M whereas greater than 10(-5) M native RNase was required to inhibit protein synthesis. Cytotoxicity requires both components of the conjugate since excess transferrin or ribonuclease inhibitors added to the medium protected the cells from the transferrin-RNase toxicity. Compounds that interfere with transferrin receptor cycling and compartmentalization such as ammonium chloride decreased the cytotoxicity of transferrin-RNase. After a dose-dependent lag period inactivation of protein synthesis by transferrin-RNase followed a first-order decay constant. In a clonogenic assay that measures the extent of cell death 1 x 10(-6) M transferrin-RNase killed at least 4 logs or 99.99% of the cells whereas 70 x 10(-6) M RNase was nontoxic. These results show that RNase coupled to a ligand can be cytotoxic. Human ribonucleases coupled to antibodies also may exhibit receptor-mediated toxicities providing a new approach to selective cell killing possibly with less systemic toxicity and importantly less immunogenicity than the currently employed ligand-toxin conjugates.     

Zinc(II)-mediated inhibition of ribonuclease Sa by an N-hydroxyurea nucleotide and its basis

Ribonuclease Sa (RNase Sa) is a secretory ribonuclease from Streptomyces aureofaciens. Herein, 3'-N-hydroxyurea-3'-deoxythymidine 5'-phosphate is shown to be a competitive inhibitor of catalysis by RNase Sa. Inhibition is enhanced by nearly 10-fold in the presence of Zn(2+), which could coordinate to the N-hydroxyurea group along with enzymic residues. The carboxylate of Glu54 is the putative base that abstracts a proton from the 2' hydroxyl group during catalysis of RNA cleavage by RNase Sa. Replacing Glu54 with a glutamine residue has no effect on the affinity of N-hydroxyurea 1 for the enzyme, but eliminates the zinc(II)-dependence of that affinity. These data indicate that an N-hydroxyurea nucleotide can recruit Zn(2+) to inhibit the enzymatic activity of RNase Sa, and suggest that the carboxylate of Glu54 is a ligand for that Zn(2+). These findings further the development of a new class of ribonuclease inhibitors based on the complex of an N-hydroxyurea nucleotide and zinc(II).     

Expression of human placental ribonuclease inhibitor in Escherichia coli

Human placental ribonuclease inhibitor (PRI) has been expressed in and isolated from Escherichia coli. Its apparent molecular weight, immunoreactivity and amino acid composition are virtually identical with those of native PRI. It inhibits the enzymatic activities of either angiogenin, a blood vessel inducing protein homologous to pancreatic RNase (RNase A), or RNase A in a stoichiometry of 1:1. Recombinant PRI binds to angiogenin and RNase A with Ki values of 2.9 x 10(-16) M and 6.8 x 10(-14) M, respectively, comparable to the affinities of native PRI for these enzymes. Thus, these results confirm that PRI inhibits angiogenin more effectively than RNase A.     

Ribonuclease Sa conformational stability studied by NMR-monitored hydrogen exchange

The conformational stability of ribonuclease Sa (RNase Sa) has been measured at the per-residue level by NMR-monitored hydrogen exchange at pH* 5.5 and 30 degrees C. In these conditions, the exchange mechanism was found to be EXII. The conformational stability calculated from the slowest exchanging amide groups was found to be 8.8 kcal/mol, in close agreement with values determined by spectroscopic methods. RNase Sa is curiously rich in acidic residues (pI = 3.5) with most basic residues being concentrated in the active-site cleft. The effects of dissolved salts on the stability of RNase Sa was studied by thermal denaturation experiments in NaCl and GdmCl and by comparing hydrogen exchange rates in 0.25 M NaCl to water. The protein was found to be stabilized by salt, with the magnitude of the stabilization being influenced by the solvent exposure and local charge environment at individual amide groups. Amide hydrogen exchange was also measured in 0.25, 0.50, 0.75, and 1.00 M GdmCl to characterize the unfolding events that permit exchange. In contrast to other microbial ribonucleases studied to date, the most protected, globally exchanging amides in RNase Sa lie not chiefly in the central beta strands but in the 3/10 helix and an exterior beta strand. These structural elements are near the Cys7-Cys96 disulfide bond.     

Charge-charge interactions in the denatured state influence the folding kinetics of ribonuclease Sa

Gaining a better understanding of the denatured state ensemble of proteins is important for understanding protein stability and the mechanism of protein folding. We studied the folding kinetics of ribonuclease Sa (RNase Sa) and a charge-reversal variant (D17R). The refolding kinetics are similar, but the unfolding rate constant is 10-fold greater for the variant. This suggests that charge-charge interactions in the denatured state and the transition state ensembles are more favorable in the variant than in RNase Sa, and shows that charge-charge interactions can influence the kinetics and mechanism of protein folding.     

Solution structure and dynamics of ribonuclease Sa.

We have used NMR methods to characterize the structure and dynamics of ribonuclease Sa in solution. The solution structure of RNase Sa was obtained using the distance constraints provided by 2,276 NOEs and the C6-C96 disulfide bond. The 40 resulting structures are well determined; their mean pairwise RMSD is 0.76 A (backbone) and 1.26 A (heavy atoms). The solution structures are similar to previously determined crystal structures, especially in the secondary structure, but exhibit new features: the loop composed of Pro 45 to Ser 48 adopts distinct conformations and the rings of tyrosines 51, 52, and 55 have reduced flipping rates. Amide protons with greatly reduced exchange rates are found predominantly in interior beta-strands and the alpha-helix, but also in the external 3/10 helix and edge beta-strand linked by the disulfide bond. Analysis of (15)N relaxation experiments (R1, R2, and NOE) at 600 MHz revealed five segments, consisting of residues 1-5, 28-31, 46-50, 60-65, 74-77, retaining flexibility in solution. The change in conformation entropy for RNase SA folding is smaller than previously believed, since the native protein is more flexible in solution than in a crystal.     

Rational immunotherapy with ribonuclease chimeras. An approach toward humanizing immunotoxins.

Members of the pancreatic ribonuclease (RNase) family have diverse activities toward RNA that could cause them to function during host defense and physiological cell death pathways. This activity could be harnessed by coupling RNases to cell binding ligands for the purpose of engineering them into cell-type specific cytotoxins. Therefore, the cytotoxic potential of RNase was explored by linking bovine pancreatic ribonuclease A via a disulfide bond to human transferrin or antibodies to the transferrin receptor. The RNase hybrid proteins were cytotoxic to K562 human erythroleukemia cells in vitro with an IC50 around 10(-7) M, whereas > 10(-4) M of native RNase was required to inhibit protein synthesis. Cytotoxicity required both components of the conjugate since excess transferrin or ribonuclease inhibitors added to the medium protected the cells from the transferrin-RNase toxicity. Importantly, the RNase conjugates were found to have potent antitumor effects in vivo. Chimeric RNase fusion proteins were also developed. F(ab')2-like antibody-enzyme fusions were prepared by linking the gene for human RNase to a chimeric antitransferrin receptor heavy chain gene. The antibody enzyme fusion gene was introduced into a transfectoma that secreted the chimeric light chain of the same antibody, and cell lines were cloned that synthesized and secreted the antibody-enzyme fusion protein of the expected size at a concentration of 1-5 ng/mL. Culture supernatants from clones secreting the fusion protein caused inhibition of growth and protein synthesis toward K562 cells that express the human transferrin receptor but not toward a nonhuman derived cell line. Since human ribonucleases coupled to antibodies also exhibited receptor mediated toxicities, a new approach to selective cell killing is provided. This may allow the development of new therapeutics for cancer treatment that exhibit less systemic toxicity and, importantly, less immunogenicity than the currently employed ligand-toxin conjugates.     

Inhibition of human pancreatic ribonuclease by the human ribonuclease inhibitor protein

The ribonuclease inhibitor protein (RI) binds to members of the bovine pancreatic ribonuclease (RNase A) superfamily with an affinity in the femtomolar range. Here, we report on structural and energetic aspects of the interaction between human RI (hRI) and human pancreatic ribonuclease (RNase 1). The structure of the crystalline hRI x RNase 1 complex was determined at a resolution of 1.95 A, revealing the formation of 19 intermolecular hydrogen bonds involving 13 residues of RNase 1. In contrast, only nine such hydrogen bonds are apparent in the structure of the complex between porcine RI and RNase A. hRI, which is anionic, also appears to use its horseshoe-shaped structure to engender long-range Coulombic interactions with RNase 1, which is cationic. In accordance with the structural data, the hRI.RNase 1 complex was found to be extremely stable (t(1/2)=81 days; K(d)=2.9 x 10(-16) M). Site-directed mutagenesis experiments enabled the identification of two cationic residues in RNase 1, Arg39 and Arg91, that are especially important for both the formation and stability of the complex, and are thus termed "electrostatic targeting residues". Disturbing the electrostatic attraction between hRI and RNase 1 yielded a variant of RNase 1 that maintained ribonucleolytic activity and conformational stability but had a 2.8 x 10(3)-fold lower association rate for complex formation and 5.9 x 10(9)-fold lower affinity for hRI. This variant of RNase 1, which exhibits the largest decrease in RI affinity of any engineered ribonuclease, is also toxic to human erythroleukemia cells. Together, these results provide new insight into an unusual and important protein-protein interaction, and could expedite the development of human ribonucleases as chemotherapeutic agents.     

Isolation and properties of a cyclic guanosine-monophosphate sensitive intracellular ribonuclease from Bacillus subtilis.

A ribonuclease was isolated and completely purified from sporulating cells of Bacillus subtilis. This RNase has a M.W. of about 150,000 daltons. It hydrolyzes single stranded RNA and single stranded synthetic polynucleotides yielding nucleoside 5'-monophosphates. The enzyme is an exonuclease which degrades polynucleotides from the 3'-end in the direction of the 5'-terminal. The RNase activity is strikingly inhibited by cGMP and to a lesser extent by cAMP. This inhibition (Ki = 0.1 mM) is of a non competitive nature. It appeared that in addition to the inhibition site, the enzyme contains a high affinity binding site for the two cyclic mononucleotides (K (cAMP) = 8.3 x 10-8; K (cGMP) = 2.5 x 10-7). The RNase activity is also strongly inhibited by spermidine. This inhibition appeared to be due to the polyamine binding with the RNA, thus lowering the affinity of the substrate for the active site of the enzyme. This RNase may play a role in vivo in selective degradation of newly synthesized mRNA during sporulation.     

KFERQ sequence in ribonuclease A-mediated cytotoxicity.

Onconase(ONC) is an amphibian ribonuclease that is in clinical trials as a cancer chemotherapeutic agent. ONC is a homolog of ribonuclease A (RNase A). RNase A can be made toxic to cancer cells by replacing Gly(88) with an arginine residue, thereby enabling the enzyme to evade the endogenous cytosolic ribonuclease inhibitor protein (RI). Unlike ONC, RNase A contains a KFERQ sequence (residues 7-11), which signals for lysosomal degradation. Here, substitution of Arg(10) of the KFERQ sequence has no effect on either the cytotoxicity of G88R RNase A or its affinity for RI. In contrast, K7A/G88R RNase A is nearly 10-fold more cytotoxic than G88R RNase A and has more than 10-fold less affinity for RI. Up-regulation of the KFERQ-mediated lysosomal degradation pathway has no effect on the cytotoxicity of these ribonucleases. Thus, KFERQ-mediated degradation does not limit the cytotoxicity of RNase A variants. Moreover, only two amino acid substitutions (K7A and G88R) are shown to endow RNase A with cytotoxic activity that is nearly equal to that of ONC.     

Protein unfolding in drug-RNase complexes

Bovine pancreatic ribonuclease A (RNase A) catalyzes the cleavage of P-O5' bonds in RNA on the 3' side of pyrimidine to form cyclic 2', 5'-phosphates. It has several high affinity binding sites that make it possible target for many organic and inorganic molecules. Ligand binding to RNase A can alter protein secondary structure and its catalytic activity. In this review, the effects of several drugs such as AZT (anti-AIDS), cis-Pt (antitumor), aspirin (anti-inflammatory), and vitamin C (antioxidant) on the stability and conformation of RNase A in vitro are compared. The results of UV-visible, FTIR, and CD spectroscopic analysis of RNase complexes with aspirin, AZT, cis-Pt, and vitamin C at physiological conditions are discussed here. Spectroscopic results showed one major binding for each drug-RNase adduct with KAZT=5.29 (+/-1.6)x10(4) M(-1), Kaspirin=3.57 (+/-1.4)x10(4) M(-1), Kcis-Pt=5.66 (+/-1.9)x10(3) M(-1), and Kascorbate=3.50 (+/-1.5)x10(3) M(-1). Major protein unfolding occurred with reduction of alpha-helix from 29% (free protein) to 20% and increase of beta-sheet from 39% (free protein) to 45% in the aspirin-, ascorbate-, and cis-Pt-RNase complexes, while minor increase of alpha-helix was observed for AZT-RNase adduct.     

Replacement of residues 8-22 of angiogenin with 7-21 of RNase A selectively affects protein synthesis inhibition and angiogenesis.

The region of human angiogenin containing residues 8-21 is highly conserved in angiogenins from four mammalian species but differs substantially from the corresponding region of the homologous protein ribonuclease A (RNase A). Regional mutagenesis has been employed to replace this segment of angiogenin with the corresponding RNase A sequence, and the activities of the resulting covalent angiogenin/RNase hybrid, designated ARH-III, have been examined. The ribonucleolytic activity of ARH-III is unchanged toward most substrates, including tRNA, naked 18S and 28S rRNA, CpA, CpG, UpA, and UpG. In contrast, the capacity of ARH-III to inhibit cell-free protein synthesis is decreased 20-30-fold compared to that of angiogenin. The angiogenic activity of ARH-III is also different; it is actually more potent. It induces a maximal response in the chick chorioallantoic membrane assay at 0.1 ng per egg, a 10-fold lower dose than required for angiogenin. In addition, binding of ARH-III to the placental ribonuclease inhibitor is increased by at least 1 order of magnitude (Ki less than or equal to 7 x 10(-17) M) compared to angiogenin. Thus, mutation of a highly conserved region of angiogenin markedly affects those properties likely involved in its biological function(s); it does not, however, alter ribonucleolytic activity toward most substrates.     

Ribonuclease inhibitor from human placenta. Purification and properties

A soluble ribonuclease inhibitor from the human placenta has been purified 4000-fold by a combination of ion exchange and affinity chromatography. The inhibitor has been isolated in 45% yield (about 2 mg/placenta) as a protein that is homogeneous by sodium dodecyl sulfate-gel electrophoresis. In common with the inhibitors of pancreatic ribonuclease from other tissues that have been studied earlier, the placental inhibitor is an acidic protein of molecular weight near 50,000; it forms a 1:1 complex with bovine pancreatic RNase A and is a noncompetitive inhibitor of the pancreatic enzyme, with a Ki of 3 X 10(-10) M. The amino acid composition of the protein has been determined. The protein contains 30 half-cystine plus cysteine residues determined as cysteic acid after performic acid oxidation. At pH 8.6 the nondenatured protein alkylated with iodoacetic acid in the presence of free thiol has 8 free sulfhydryl groups. The inhibitor is irreversibly inactivated by sulfhydryl reagents and also by removal of free thiol from solutions of the protein. Inactivation by sulfhydryl reagents causes the dissociation of the RNase - inhibitor complex into active RNase and inactive inhibitor.     

Effects of monomethoxypoly(ethylene glycol) modification of ribonuclease on antibody recognition, substrate accessibility and conformational stability

The effects of modification of bovine pancreatic ribonuclease A by monomethoxypoly(ethylene glycol) (MPEG) were examined for changes in recognition by antiRNase antibodies, enzymatic activity against low and high molecular weight substrates and conformational stability to temperature elevation. Modified forms of RNase were prepared containing an average of 4, 9, and 11 mol of MPEG/mol protein, by amino group modification. These were analysed by binding to RNase antibodies crosslinked to solid phase-immobilized protein A. The affinity column was incorporated into a high performance liquid chromatograph and the RNase species were studied by both zonal and frontal analytical affinity chromatography. An antibody dissociation constant of 7.6 x 10(-8) M was found for unmodified RNase, as compared to values of 1.3 x 10(-7) and 1.2 x 10(-6) M for RNase with 4 and 9 covalently bound MPEG chains, respectively. Modification also led to progressive loss of enzymatic activity against RNA, down to 3% for the most highly modified enzyme. In contrast, enzymatic activity against cytidine-2',3'-cyclic monophosphate was suppressed to a maximum of only 33% at the highest modification level, and the stability to temperature, as followed by circular dichroism, was reduced only partially, from 67 degrees C for native protein to 57 degrees C for RNase with 11 mol equivalents MPEG incorporated. The above differential effects on enzymatic activity, antibody binding and temperature effects are consistent with the view that MPEG modification has relatively small effects on conformational stability and small molecule accessibility, but more dramatic effects on large molecule (substrate as well as antibody) accessibility.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Purification and characterization of an extracellular, uracil specific ribonuclease from a Bizionia species isolated from the marine environment of the Sundarbans

The first ribonuclease (RNase) from the Cytophaga-Flavobacterium-Bacteroides phylum, dominant in the marine environment, and also from the first Bizionia species isolated from the tropics was purified and characterized. Extracellular RNase production occurred when the culture medium contained 5-7% (w/v) NaCl. The 53.0 kDa enzyme was purified 29 folds with a recovery of 4% and specific activity of 630unit/mg protein. The pH and temperature optima are 6.5 and 35 degrees C, respectively and the enzyme retains more than half of its activity (relative to optimal assay conditions) after 1h pre-incubation separately with 5% (w/v) NaCl or from pH 5.0 to 8.5 or at 50 degrees C. Dithiothreitol and beta-mercaptoethanol do not inhibit whereas human placental RNase inhibitor protein halves the RNase activity. While Mg(2+), Ba(2+) and Ca(2+) enhanced the enzyme activity, Fe(2+), Cu(2+) and Hg(2+) inactivated it. This RNase degrades uracil containing nucleic acids only. Our isolate could be a novel renewable source of deoxyribonuclease (DNase)--free RNase enzyme.