Cytoplasmic and chloroplast ribosomes of Chlamydomonas: ultracentrifugal characterization

Ribosomes isolated from the cytoplasmic and chloroplast fractions of Chlamydomonas were characterized in the ultracentrifuge. The cytoplasmic ribosomes belong to the 80S class of ribosomes, and, like animal ribosomes, dissociate to 60, 50, and 40S subunits. However, like the ribosomes of microorganisms, they contain smaller RNA's, 24 and 16S, and require 0.01 mole of magnesium ions per liter for stability. Chloroplast ribosomes are 70S like those of higher plants but are very unstable. A stable 50S subunit has been observed.     

Messenger RNA in early sea-urchin embryos: cytoplasmic particles

Three structures containing messenger RNA can be demonstrated in the cytoplasm of early sea-urchin embryos: (i) particles that sediment more slowly than ribosomes and contain newly synthesized DNA-like RNA, (ii) light polyribosomes, which also contain this newly synthesized RNA, and (iii) heavy polyribosomes, which seemingly contain only already existing or "maternal" messenger RNA and account for the bulk of the synthesis of protein.     

Membranes in polyribosome formation by rabbit reticulocytes

When rabbit reticulocytes are incubated with n-butanol, an agent disruptive to the structure and function of cellular membranes, there is a rapid disaggregation of the polyribosomes. Reaggregation is promoted when the n-butanol is diluted below a critical concentration or when the cells are washed free of the alcohol and the incubation is continued. Neither disaggregation nor regeneration will occur in the absence of protein synthesis. These observations suggest that integrity of the reticulocyte membrane is necessary for the attachment of ribosomes to messenger RNA and for the formation of polyribosomes.     

Inhibition of protein synthesis by spectinomycin

Spectinomycin selectively inhibits protein synthesis in cells and in extracts of Escherichia coli. Mutations to high-level resistance to this antibiotic map close to the streptomycin locus, and the site of action of spectinomycin, like that of streptomycin, is the 30S ribosomal subunit, as shown by experiments with reconstituted 70S ribosomes containing subunits from sensitive and from resistant ribosomes. In contrast to streptomycin, however, spectinomycin is not bactericidal and causes no detectable misreading of polyribonucleotides.     

How hibernation factors RMF, HPF, and YfiA turn off protein synthesis

Eubacteria inactivate their ribosomes as 100S dimers or 70S monomers upon entry into stationary phase. In Escherichia coli, 100S dimer formation is mediated by ribosome modulation factor (RMF) and hibernation promoting factor (HPF), or alternatively, the YfiA protein inactivates ribosomes as 70S monomers. Here, we present high-resolution crystal structures of the Thermus thermophilus 70S ribosome in complex with each of these stationary-phase factors. The binding site of RMF overlaps with that of the messenger RNA (mRNA) Shine-Dalgarno sequence, which prevents the interaction between the mRNA and the 16S ribosomal RNA. The nearly identical binding sites of HPF and YfiA overlap with those of the mRNA, transfer RNA, and initiation factors, which prevents translation initiation. The binding of RMF and HPF, but not YfiA, to the ribosome induces a conformational change of the 30S head domain that promotes 100S dimer formation.     

RIBOSOMAL RNA ON THE SURFACE OF RIBOSOMES

Ribonuclease from pancreas releases nucleotide from Escherichiacoli ribosomes while not altering significantly the base composition of the total ribosomal RNA. Ribonuclease hydrolyzes ribsomal RNA without destroying the structure of 70S or 30S and 50S ribosomes. The RNA in 30S and 50S ribosomes appears more sensitive to the action of ribonuclease. The data suggest that RNA may be a surface component of the ribosome.     

Ribosomal Protein Conferring Sensitivity to the Antibiotic Spectinomycin in Escherichia coli

Reconstitution of 30S ribosomal particles from 16S ribosomal RNA and total proteins, or from core proteins and split proteins obtained from the ribosomes of strains of Escherichia coli sensitive to and resistant to spectinomycin, shows that the split protein fraction determines the response of polypeptide synthesis in virto to spectinomycin. Reconstitution of active particles in the presence of isolated split proteins allowed the identification of the single split protein responsible for spectinomycin sensitivity.     

Isopycnic separation of subcellular components from poliovirus-infected and normal HeLa cells

A rapid method for determining the density of ribonucleoprotein particles and complexes has been developed. The method involves glutaraldehyde fixation of sucrose gradient fractions and immediate centrifugation for 5 hours through preformed cesium chloride gradients. There is little or no aggregation of particles, so that components which co-sediment in sucrose gradients are resolved by the cesium chloride gradient. By this method the densities of HeLa cell ribosomes, polyribosomes, and subribosomal particles have been determined. Furthermore, the poliovirus replication complex has been separated from polyribosomes and its density has been found to be unaffected by treatment with ethylene-diaminetetraacetic acid.     

Chloroplast ribosomes: stereospecificity of inhibition by chloramphenicol

Chloroplast ribosomes from tobacco leaves show the same stereospecificity of inhibition by chloramphenicol as bacterial ribosomes do. Cytoplasmic ribosomes from the same leaves are unaffected by chloramphenicol. These results remove doubts raised by nonstereospecific effects of chloramphenicol on higher plant cells and support the concept that chloroplasts have evolved from prokaryotes.     

DNA Complementary to Ribosomal RNA: Relation between Genomic Proportion and Ploidy

Ten Nicotiana species were assayed for the proportion of DNA that is complementary to ribosomal RNA. This proportion varies from 0.27 to 0.9 percent, with tetraploid species having lower values than the diploid species. The tetraploid species have about twice as much DNA per cell as do diploid species. Thus, the absolute number of genes for ribosomal RNA varies less than the proportion of complementary DNA. Further, the number of genes for the RNA in 80S ribosomes varies less among species than does that for the RNA in 70S ribosomes. The data indicate that loss of DNA complementary to ribosomal RNA is associated with tetraploidy in the genus Nicotiana.     

Reformation of functional liver polyribosomes from ribosome monomers in the absence of RNA synthesis

The administration to rats of the ethyl analog of methionine, ethionine, results in the rapid decrease in the hepatic concentration of adenosine triphosphate followed by an extensive disaggregation of polysomes to ribosome monomers and a concomitant inhibition of protein synthesis. These effects are readily reversed by the injection of methionine or precursors of adenine nucleotides such as adenine. The reformation of liver polyribosomes in such animals following the administration of adenine plus methionine was found to occur under conditions in which new RNA synthesis was markedly inhibited. Free messenger RNA without attached ribosomes must be capable of remaining functionally active in the liver cytoplasm for many hours.     

Altered ribosomal protein in streptomycin-dependent Escherichia coli

We have compared the 30S ribosomal proteins of strains of Escherichia coli sensitive to and dependent on streptomycin and identified a single protein that is functionally altered in the ribosomes dependent on streptomycin. This protein (30S-15) is the same protein that is functionally altered in ribosomes resistant to streptomycin.     

甘蔗叶绿体分离及其蛋白质提取方法研究

【目的】探索甘蔗幼苗叶片完整叶绿体的分离纯化及其叶绿体蛋白质提取方法,为深入研究甘蔗叶绿体蛋白质组学奠定基础。【方法】以甘蔗品种ROC22幼苗叶片为材料,通过差速离心法制备粗叶绿体制品,分别利用蔗糖密度梯度离心和Percoll梯度离心进一步分离纯化完整叶绿体;提取叶绿体蛋白质,并进行电泳分析。【结果】两种密度梯度离心法均可获得纯度和完整率较高的叶绿体,但蔗糖密度梯度离心法具有分离时间较短、成本较低,分离的叶绿体完整率、纯度和含量高等特点,并且提取的叶绿体蛋白质电泳条带清晰,蛋白质数量多且较全。【结论】与Pecoll梯度离心法相比,蔗糖密度梯度离心法更适宜于在亚细胞水平上进行甘蔗蛋白质组学研究。     

甘蔗叶绿体分离及其蛋白质提取方法研究

【目的】探索甘蔗幼苗叶片完整叶绿体的分离纯化及其叶绿体蛋白质提取方法,为深入研究甘蔗叶绿体蛋白质组学奠定基础。【方法】以甘蔗品种ROC22幼苗叶片为材料,通过差速离心法制备粗叶绿体制品,分别利用蔗糖密度梯度离心和Percoll梯度离心进一步分离纯化完整叶绿体;提取叶绿体蛋白质,并进行电泳分析。【结果】两种密度梯度离心法均可获得纯度和完整率较高的叶绿体,但蔗糖密度梯度离心法具有分离时间较短、成本较低,分离的叶绿体完整率、纯度和含量高等特点,并且提取的叶绿体蛋白质电泳条带清晰,蛋白质数量多且较全。【结论】与Pecoll梯度离心法相比,蔗糖密度梯度离心法更适宜于在亚细胞水平上进行甘蔗蛋白质组学研究。     

Tryptophan deficiency in rabbit reticulocytes: polyribosomes during interrupted growth of hemoglobin chains

Of several amino acids essential for optimum hemoglobin synthesis by the rabbit reticulocyte, only omission of tryptophan results in polyribosome disaggregation. This disaggregation is prevented by the omission of both tryptophan and an amino acid that is relatively more essential than tryptophan for hemoglobin synthesis. Since tryptophan is located only near the amino-terminal ends of both chains of rabbit globin, the results indicate that single ribosomes and those in polyribosomes are in a dynamic state in the intact cell.     

Structural basis for the rescue of stalled ribosomes: structure of YaeJ bound to the ribosome

In bacteria, the hybrid transfer-messenger RNA (tmRNA) rescues ribosomes stalled on defective messenger RNAs (mRNAs). However, certain gram-negative bacteria have evolved proteins that are capable of rescuing stalled ribosomes in a tmRNA-independent manner. Here, we report a 3.2 angstrom-resolution crystal structure of the rescue factor YaeJ bound to the Thermus thermophilus 70S ribosome in complex with the initiator tRNA(i)(fMet) and a short mRNA. The structure reveals that the C-terminal tail of YaeJ functions as a sensor to discriminate between stalled and actively translating ribosomes by binding in the mRNA entry channel downstream of the A site between the head and shoulder of the 30S subunit. This allows the N-terminal globular domain to sample different conformations, so that its conserved GGQ motif is optimally positioned to catalyze the hydrolysis of peptidyl-tRNA. This structure gives insights into the mechanism of YaeJ function and provides a basis for understanding how it rescues stalled ribosomes.     

Hybrid ribosome formation from Escherichia coli and chloroplast ribosome subunits

A 70S ribosome was prepared from a 30S ribosome subunit from Euglena gracilis chloroplasts and a 50S ribosome subunit from Escherichia coli. This hybrid ribosome was active in polyuridylic acid-directed polyphenylalanine synthesis.     

Ultrastructural studies of seed coat and cotyledon during rapeseed maturation

Brassica napus L.(B. napus) is an important oil crop worldwide and it rapidly accumulates oil at late stage of seed maturation. However, little is known about the cellular mechanism of oil accumulation and seed color changes during the late stage of rapeseed development. Here, we analyzed the ultrastructure of seed coat, aleurone and cotyledon in embryos of B. napus from 25 to 70 days after flowering(DAF). The pigments, which were deposited on the cell wall of palisade cells in seed coat, determined dark black color of rapeseed. The chloroplasts degenerated into non-photosynthetic plastids which caused the green cotyledon to turn into yellow. The chloroplasts in aleurone and cotyledon cells respectively degenerated into remnants without inner and outer envelope membranes and ecoplasts with intact inner and outer envelope membranes. From 40 to 70 DAF, there were degraded chloroplasts without thylakoid, oil bodies contacting with plastids or protein bodies, big starch deposits of chloroplasts degrading into small particles then disappearing, and small endoplasmic reticulum(ER) in aleurone and cotyledon cells. Additionally, there were decreases of chlorophyll content and dramatic increases of oil content in rapeseed. These results suggested that the rapid oil accumulation was independent on the NADPH synthesized by photosynthesis of chloroplasts and probably utilized other sources of reductant, such as the oxidative pentose phosphate pathway during the late stage of rapeseed development. The triacylglycerol assembly presumably utilizes the enzymes in the plastid, cytosol or oil body of cotyledon and aleurone cells.     

Human Mpp11 J protein: ribosome-tethered molecular chaperones are ubiquitous

The existence of specialized molecular chaperones that interact directly with ribosomes is well established in microorganisms. Such proteins bind polypeptides exiting the ribosomal tunnel and provide a physical link between translation and protein folding. We report that ribosome-associated molecular chaperones have been maintained throughout eukaryotic evolution, as illustrated by Mpp11, the human ortholog of the yeast ribosome-associated J protein Zuo. When expressed in yeast, Mpp11 partially substituted for Zuo by partnering with the multipurpose Hsp70 Ssa, the homolog of mammalian Hsc70. We propose that in metazoans, ribosome-associated Mpp11 recruits the multifunctional soluble Hsc70 to nascent polypeptide chains as they exit the ribosome.     

S-100 protein synthesis by isolated polyribosomes from rat brain

The radioactive proteins synthesized in a cell-free system and released from polyribosomes from rat brain were analyzed for the presence of a protein found only in the nervous system. Polyribosomes from rat liver were also studied to demonstrate the organ specificity of the radioactive product synthesized in vitro. The S-100 protein constituted 0.15 percent of the radioactive proteins released from brain polyribosomes.