Binding of specific sRNA to template ribosome complex: Effect of proteolytic enzymes

Abstract

When ribosomes were treated with trypsin, very little soluble material was released but the ribosomes lost some of their functions. The production of poly-phenylalanine under the direction of polyuridylic acid, the binding capacity for specific sRNA, the capacity to bind [14C]polyuridylic acid (to form polysomes), are sensitive to the trypsin treatment in that order. Thus, it has been possible to obtain ribosomes which had lost their capacity to form polyphenylalanine but still retained the capacity to bind specific sRNA. Extensive treatment of ribosomes with trypsin resulted in almost complete dissociation of 70 S ribosomes into 50 s and 30 S subunits.