Chloroquine and primaquine inhibition of rat liver cell-free polynucleotidedependent polypeptide synthesis

Abstract

Chloroquine and primaquine inhibited polypeptide formation directed by poly U and random poly A,G,U in a rat liver cell-free system. It was necessary to preincubate the drug and polynucleotide before addition to the cell-free system to observe this inhibition. These antimalarials also decreased the binding of poly U to ribosomes under these conditions. No inhibition of polypeptide syntheses or poly U binding to ribosomes was observed when the drugs and polynucleotides were added to the cell-free system separately. Chloroquine and primaquine apparently interacted with the free polynucleotide and prevented the subsequent formation of an active polynucleotideribosome complex.