Messenger RNA accumulation in Escherichia coli during chloramphenicol treatment

Abstract 1. Ribosomal protein synthesis was examined in Escherichia coli during recovery from chloramphenicol treatment in the presence of an inhibitor of RNA synthesis, rifampicin. These studies revealed that the preferential synthesis of four ribosomal proteins which occurs during recovery from chloramphenicol treatment is not dependent upon continued RNA synthesis. These observations suggest that extensive accumulation of mRNA's for these ribosomal proteins takes place during chloramphenicol treatment.