Effect of inhibitors of elongation factor Tu on the metabolic regulation of protein synthesis in Escherichia coli

By using inhibitors of elongation factor Tu (L-1-tosylamido-2-phenylethyl chloromethyl ketone [TPCK] and kirromycin), we determined the effect of elongation factor Tu inhibition on the synthesis of individual components of the translation machinery. The rates of synthesis of individual proteins were measured in double-label experiments using a two-dimensional gel system. TPCK inhibition produce a coordinate decrease in the differential synthesis rates of all components of the translation machinery examined in these experiments. On the other hand, kirromycin inhibition increased the differential synthesis rates of some translation components and decreased the differential synthesis rates of others. These results suggest that the metabolic regulation of synthesis of various translation proteins is not mediated through a common signal.