Plant Nucleases: III. Polyacrylamide Gel Electrophoresis of Corn Ribonuclease Isoenzymes

Isoenzymes of RNase were detected in plant extracts after polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis with a new buffer system. The gels were incubated in an RNA solution, then dipped for 30 seconds into 0.2% toluidine blue. The method is rapid and is sensitive to very small amounts of RNase. The effects of buffers and ethylenediaminetetraacetate on the different enzymes are illustrated by photographs and scans of the gels.