A Factor Capable of Dissociating Rat Liver Ribosomes

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Abstract
A factor capable of dissociating rat liver monomeric ribosomes into 60 S and 40 S subunits has been partially purified and characterized.The factor was prepared by extracting a fraction of rat liver enriched in its content of native subunits with 0.05 M triethanolamine–HCl, 1.0 M KCl, 0.01 M MgSO4, and 2 mM dithiothreitol. The activity of the preparation was assayed by testing its ability to dissociate monomeric ribosomes into subunits which were detected by sucrose density gradient analysis. The ribosomes used as substrate were prepared by dissociating polysomes in the presence of puromycin, 0.5 M KCl, and 3 mM MgSO4 and subsequently reassociating the subunits into monomers by lowering the ionic strength. The factor acts only on ribosomes freed of both messenger RNA and nascent protein by associating with the small subunit. The activity was time and temperature dependent, reaching a plateau after 30 min at 30 °C.The factor has been partially purified by ammonium sulfate fractionation between 35% and 65% saturation and by treatment at 40 °C for 15 min to precipitate ribosome-aggregating substances.

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