Hua, J. and Paetkau, V.
Notes: Jurkat cells, a human T lymphocyte line that can be induced to synthesize and secrete interleukin 2, contain a factor that binds interleukin 2 mRNA. The binding is sequence specific and occurs in the 3’-non-coding region, within 160nt of the end of the coding region, at or near a site on the mRNA that is rich in A and U residues. However, it appears not to be due to known AU binding factors. The factor is protease sensitive and binds non-covalently to interleukin 2 mRNA. It behaves like aprotein of molecular weight 50,000-60,000 after UV-induced cross-linking to the mRNA. Preparations of the binding factor also protect interleukin 2 mRNA against degradation by a recently described RNasin-resistant endoribonuclease activity in Jurkat cells. Protection occurs under the same conditions required to generate the gel-retarded complex. (1645)