Abstract
A ribosome-cell sap system capable of supporting the incorporation of C14-labelled amino acids into protein has been prepared from Krebs II mouse ascites-tumor cells. The requirements of this system for optimum activity and response to added messenger RNA (ribonucleic acid) have been investigated. One such system has been obtained for which amino acid incorporation is almost wholly dependent on the addition of suitable messenger RNA. Ribosomes of widely different but predictable activities in the cell-free system have been prepared from Krebs cells pretreated in a variety of ways. The factors in the pretreatment of the cells responsible for these differences have been investigated. The structural and functional properties of these different ribosomes preparations and their response to exogenous messenger RNA have been examined and are discussed in the light of modern concepts of the control of protein synthesis.