The Location of the Poly(C) Tract in the RNA of Foot-and-Mouth Disease Virus

Fragments of foot-and-mouth disease virus RNA of decreasing size, containing the 3' poly(A) sequence have been prepared by alkali treatment and sucrose gradient centrifugation followed by oligo(dT)-cellulose affinity chromatography. Polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis of the ribonuclease T₁ resistant oligonucleotides from these polyadenylated fragments has enabled us to locate the position of some of the longer oligonucleotides on the RNA. In particular the poly(C) tract has been shown to be near the 5' end of the RNA. The possible function of the poly(C) tract is discussed in the light of these findings.