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J Bacteriol. 1968 August; 96(2): 492-500
Copyright © 1968 American Society for Microbiology. All Rights Reserved.

Relationship Between Protein and Ribonucleic Acid Synthesis During Outgrowth of Spores of Bacillus cereus

Laboratory of Molecular Biology, University of Wisconsin, Madison, Wisconsin 53706
Physiology Course, Marine Biology Laboratory, Woods Hole, Massachusetts

ABSTRACT

The rate of protein and ribonucleic acid (RNA) synthesis was examined during the outgrowth of spores of Bacillus cereus T in a chemically defined medium. RNA synthesis started 2.5 min after the initiation of germination, and protein synthesis after 4 min. Addition of a complete amino acid supplement and uracil supported high rates of RNA and protein synthesis throughout outgrowth. To determine the relationship between the rate of protein (k) and RNA synthesis, the kinetics of formation of various classes of RNA were followed during outgrowth. Ribosomal RNA (rRNA) comprised a relatively constant fraction of the total RNA throughout outgrowth (71 to 78%). The classes of RNA synthesized during this period were determined by germinating spores in radioactive uracil and then at intervals following their stability to actinomycin D. Initially, labile RNA comprised the largest fraction of newly formed RNA (RNA), and this proportion decreased during outgrowth. The ratio of k/rRNA or k/ stable RNA varied considerably during outgrowth, whereas the ratio of k/labile RNA remained constant. The data suggest that the rate of protein synthesis is not rigidly coupled to either total or newly synthesized rRNA (ribosomes) during the early stages of outgrowth.

¹ Present address: Department of Biology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pa.

² Present address: Centre de Genetique Moleculaire, C.N.R.S., Gif sur Yvette, France.

³ Present address: Biology Department, Marquette University, Milwaukee, Wis.

⁴ Present address: Chemistry Department, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, Ohio.

⁵ Present address: Department of Biological Chemistry, Stanford University, Palo Alto, Calif.

⁶ National Institutes of Health Research Career Professor.

This article has been cited by other articles:

• Hansen, J. N., Spiegelman, G., Halvorson, H. O. (1970). Bacterial Spore Outgrowth Its Regulation. Science 168: 1291-1298