Effect of GTP on the dissociation of 70 S ribosomes

Factor-promoted dissociation of free ribosomes in a rabbit reticulocyte lysate system: inhibition and requirement for an energy source

A factor that promoted the dissociation of ribosomes into ribosomal subunits in a complete globin-synthesizing system was isolated from rabbit reticulocyte ribosomes. The factor stimulated both globin synthesis and the association of the small ribosomal subunit with polyribosomes. The dissociation of free ribosomes by the factor could be followed as an independent reaction in the presence of a high concentration of cycloheximide, which inhibited translation and the resulting accumulation of runoff subunits. This reaction required an energy source and was inhibited by P-(5'-guanylyl)-methylenebisphosphonate. These data suggest that energy generated by hydrolysis of GTP may be a requirement for the dissociation reaction. Aurintricarboxylic acid inhibited the factor-mediated dissociation of free ribosomes but not the factor-mediated preservation of subunits formed on peptide-chain termination.

Association factor of ribosomal subunits from Bacillus stearothermophilus

The isolation of a new factor, which can cause the in vitro association of 30S and 50S ribosomal subunits at low Mg(++) concentration, is described. The association factor is eluted together with the dissociation protein when ribosomes of Bacillus stearothermophilus are washed with salt solutions of high concentration. The association activity is heat-stable, whereas dissociation factor is inactivated after 10 min at 80 degrees C. This treatment allows the separation of both factors. Several properties rule out the possibility that uncharged, amino-acyl-, or peptidyl-tRNA are responsible for the association process described in this report. Digestion with trypsin shows that the association factor contains at least two components, one of which is a protein.

Isolation and properties of polypeptide chain initiation factor FII from Escherichia coli: evidence for a dual function

Initiation factor FII (F(3), factor B) has been purified from Escherichia coli Q13 to apparent homogeneity. It is a heat-stable basic protein, consisting of a single polypeptide chain of molecular weight 21,000. FII is required, in addition to the other factors FI and FIII, for the formation of a 70S complex containing fMet-tRNA, poly(U,G) (used as a model messenger RNA), and the ribosome. FII also is capable of dissociating 70S ribosomes to 30S and 50S subunits. Evidence is presented that both activities are mediated by the same protein.

Dissociation of 70 S E. coli ribosomes induced by a ribosomal factor (DF). Electrophoretic studies of the ribosomal particles

The dissociation of purified 70 S.E. coli ribosomes, induced by the dissociation factor DF, has been studied by submitting the reaction mixtures to electrophoresis on polyacrylamide gels. The electrophoretic analysis of the ribosome mixtures revealed a heterogeneity which escaped detection by conventional sucrose gradient centrifugation. Increasing amounts of DF in the reaction mixtures converted 70 S ribosomes to particles (designated 70 S (I)) which migrate slower in the electric field than the original 70 S ribosomes. These 70 S (I) ribosomes still consist of both subunits. They dissociate upon further raising the DF concentration.

An initiation factor causing dissociation of E. coli ribosomes

Purification of crude initiation factors, essential for polypeptide synthesis in cell-free systems of E. coli, yielded a fraction DF which causes dissociation of 70 S ribosomes. Its stoichiometric action on 70 S ribosomes is antagonized by increasing Mg(2+) concentrations but not by the addition of 30 S and 50 S subunits washed with high salt concentration. GTP did not stimulate this dissociating action. 2 &mgr;g of our most purified preparation caused 100% dissociation of 100 &mgr;g of 70 S ribosomes without added GTP. DF-induced dissociation is a very rapid process at 37 degrees C and is temperature-dependent in the range of 0 degrees -37 degrees C. DF, which is thermolabile factor, is much less or not effective with complexed 70 S ribosomes bearing peptidyl-tRNA and mRNA.

Dissociation of 70S ribosomes: some properties of the dissociating factor from Bacillus stearothermophilus and Escherichia coli

A protein factor which produces in vitro dissociation of 70S particles into 30S and 50S subunits has been obtained from Bacillus stearothermophilus and Escherichia coli. The factor could be extracted from ribosomes, polyribosomes, and S100 supernatant. The kinetics and temperature curve of the dissociation process in the B. stearothermophilus system have been studied and compared with the reaction in the E. coli system. No species specificity was observed when hybrid mixtures of ribosomes and dissociating factor from both bacteria were used. The wide variations of dissociating activity in cells at different stages of growth and the capacity of the liberated subunits to carry out polypeptide synthesis suggest that the dissociating factor has a physiological role.