Open AccessRequirement for Ribosomal Protein BM‐L1 1 in Stringent Control of RNA Synthesis in Bacillus megaterium
Author(s) -
STARK Michael J. R.,
CUNDLIFFE Eric
Publication year - 1979
Publication title -
european journal of biochemistry
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 1432-1033
pISSN - 0014-2956
DOI - 10.1111/j.1432-1033.1979.tb06267.x
Subject(s) - thiostrepton , ribosome , bacillus megaterium , ribosomal protein , protein biosynthesis , mutant , ribosomal rna , escherichia coli , guanosine , biology , biochemistry , rna , strain (injury) , stringent response , chemistry , bacteria , gene , genetics , anatomy
A spontaneously occurring thiostrepton‐resistant mutant of Bacillus megaterium has been shown to yield ribosomes lacking protein BM‐L1 1, a protein immunologically related to Escherichia coli ribosomal protein L11. Here we have demonstrated that the mutant strain has acquired the relaxed phenotype and is unable to synthesise guanosine tetraphosphate and pentaphosphate in vivo . Ribosomes from the mutant strain are unable to support the synthesis of these two compounds in vitro , but this deficiency can be overcome by re‐addition of purified protein BM‐L11 to the ribosomes. Thus protein BM‐L11 appears to be indispensable for the synthesis of guanosine tetraphosphate and pentaphosphate; the implications of this observation are discussed.