CELL-FREE PROTEIN SYNTHESIS: THE ASSOCIATION OF VIRAL RNA AND E. COLI RIBOSOMES

Abstract
Plant viral RNA associates with E. coli ribosomes in the absence of cofactors other than Mg++. The complex thus formed appears to consist of one molecule of viral RNA and one 70s ribosome, and is capable of carrying out polypeptide synthesis. In a typical preparation of ribosomes, 10 per cent are capable of binding viral RNA; the same fraction functions in the amino acid incorporation assay. The association of viral RNA with ribosomes is reversed in 10-4 MMg++. Both 30s and 50s particles appear to contain site(s) for viral RNA attachment.