ENDOTOXIN INDUCES RAT LUNG RIBONUCLEASE-ACTIVITY

Lipopolysaccharide (endotoxin), a component of Gram-negative bacteria, causes marked alterations in eukaryotic gene expression and cellular physiology. We show that within one hour of injection of endotoxin int o adult rats there is an induction of ribonuclease activity in the lun g. The degradation of RNA was prevented by treatment of the lung extra ct from endotoxin-injected rats with ribonuclease inhibitor (RNasin). We suggest that induction by endotoxin of ribonuclease activity is a n ovel mechanism by which cells could alter gene expression to meet an e nvironmental challenge and caution that the presence of ribonuclease c an hinder molecular biological analyses of tissue extracts from endoto xin-treated rats.