JBC, Vol. 251, Issue 2, 292-301, Jan, 1976
Structure and function of initiation complexes which accumulate during inhibition of protein synthesis by fluoride ion
W. Godchaux 3rd and K. C. Atwood 4th
Incubation of the reticulocyte lysate cell-free system with KF results in
the accumulation in polysomes of complexes containing deacylated tRNAMet
and of complexes which can initiate globin chains in the presence of
aurintricarboxylate. Degradation of these polysomes with T1RNase yields
both 40 S and 80 S particles, and tRNAMet is found in both of these
fractions. When the 80 S particles are reincubated with the soluble
fraction of the lysate plus reagents for protein synthesis, short peptides
which have the properties of the NH2-terminal regions of globin are
synthesized de novo. These peptides are deficient in NH2-terminal
methionine, but occur under conditions where nascent globin peptides of
comparable length, containing NH2-terminal methionine, are completely
protected from the methionine aminopeptidase.