Inactivation of the ribosomal protein S1 in polyuridylate binding by reductive methylation of the lysyl-ammonium groups

Abstract The ribosomal protein S1 was modified by reductive methylation of some of its lysyl ammonium groups (S1∗). With 6 out of 30 groups methylated the protein lost its capacity to form stable complexes with polyuridylate. Addition of excess polyuridylate inhibited the methylation of the lysyl groups. In equilibrium dialysis experiments it was shown that the binding constant between S1∗ and U 15 was lowered 10-fold as compared to the native protein. The pH-dependence of the complex formation between S1 and U 15 confirms a participation of the lysyl residues. When S1 depleted 30-S ribosomes were reconstituted with methylated S1 these ribosomes were inactive in the poly(U) stimulated Phe-tRNA binding. The data are discussed with respect to a grid-like interaction between the lysyl groups of the protein and the phosphodiester bonds of the polynucleotide as a molecular basis of protein nucleic acid interaction.