Re-examination by improved reverse transcriptase assay of DNA polymerase in platelets from myelodysplastic disease patients.

A number of reports have suggested that platelets from polycythemia vera patients contain reverse transcriptase activity that might be correlated with C-type retrovirus-like particles. As described herein, we devised a new assay method for reverse transcriptase activity using MS-2 phage RNA hybridized with synthetic oligodeoxynucleotide (18-mer) as a template/primer. Using this new, sensitive assay method, we examined the platelet enzyme. By the conventional assay method using poly(rA)-oligo(dT), extracts of platelets showed a considerable amount of incorporation. However, by the new assay method using MS-2 RNA, no incorporation was observed. The poly(rA)-oligo(dT)-dependent activity was purified on Mono Q column, and it was shown that this activity coincided with that of DNA polymerase gamma.