Interaction of polylysine with phosvitin and nucleic acids

Abstract

DNA dependent RNA asynthesis in inhibited by basic proteins like histones or polylysine This inhibitory effect is found to be suppressed by phosvitin, which is a phosphoprotein. Turbidometric studies indicate that polylysine interacts with DNA and RNA stoichiometrically. This interaction with DNA has been thought to be the cause of this inhibitory effect. Phovitin also interacts with polylysine more effectively than DNA. Phosvitin in quantities much less than the stoichionietric amount can compete with DNA for the polylysine and can thus make DNA free and available as template for the RNA synthesis. Phosphoserine, unlike pbosvitin, is ineffective in suppressing the inhibitory effect of polylysine.