Synthesis and assembly of ribosomal protein into 50 s subunits during recovery from chloramphenicol treatment

Abstract Synthesis and assembly of structural proteins into 50 s ribosomal subunits were examined in Escherichia coli recovering from chloramphenicol treatment. The study was designed to determine whether all ribosomal proteins were synthesized to the same extent during recovery from chloramphenicol treatment. This investigation provides evidence that four proteins were preferentially synthesized and assembled into 50 s subunits early during recovery from chloramphenicol treatment and that considerable variation occurred in the rate of assembly of the various proteins into 50 s subunits. Those proteins synthesized to the greatest extent and most rapidly incorporated into 50 s subunits were the “split” proteins which were removed by treating ribosomes with cesium chloride. Later in recovery, cells preferentially synthesized the complement to the proteins synthesized early. After one hour of recovery, the cells resumed the normal pattern of ribosomal protein synthesis.