AbstractA simple and rapid method for analysis of the core of 2′,5′‐oligoadenylates, mainly based on the use of high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), is described. Perchloric acid extracts of tissues or cells were first treated with nuclease P1. Portions of the extracts were then digested with alkaline phosphatase. HPLC analysis of the extracts was performed on a column system composed of an Ultrasphere ODS precolumn (4.6 × 45 mm) and an Ultrasphere Octyl column (4.6 × 250 mm) by stepwise elution using a 50 mM ammonium phosphate buffer, pH7, containing 3.5 and 7% methanol. Three species of the core of 2′,5′‐oligoadenylates (dimer, trimer and tetramer) from a number of samples were eluted separately with 7% methanol, and the concentration of each core was directly estimated using constant values calculated with the standard core. The level of the core of 2′,5′‐oligoadenylates in tissues and cells determined by our method is similar to that reported by other authors who used biological, radiobinding or radioi