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The nucleotide sequence of the intergenic region between the 5.8S and 26S rRNA genes of the yeast ribosomal RNA operon. Possible implications for the interaction between 5.8S and 26S rRNA and the processing of the primary transcript.

We have determined the nucleotide sequence of part of a cloned yeast ribosomal RNA operon extending from the 5.8S RNA gene downstream into the 5' -terminal region of the 26S RNA gene. We mapped the pertinent processing sites, viz. the 5' end of 26S rRNA and the 3'ends of 5.8S rRNA and its immediate precursor, 7S RNA. At the 3' end of 7S RNA we find the sequence UCGUUU which is very similar to the type I consensus sequence UCAUUA/U present at the 3' ends of 17S, 5.8S and 26S rRNA as well as 18S precursor rRNA in yeast. At the 5' end of the 26S RNA gene we find a sequence of thirteen nucleotides which is homologous to the type II sequence present at the 5' termini of both the 17S and the 5.8S RNA gene. These findings further support the suggestion put forward earlier (G.M. Veldman et al. (1980) Nucl. Acids Res. 8, 2907-2920) that both consensus sequences are involved in the recognition of precursor rRNA by the processing nuclease(s). We discuss a model for the processing of yeast rRNA in which a processing enzyme sequentially recognizes several combinations of a type I and a type II consensus sequence. We also describe the existence of a significant base complementarity between sequences in the 5' -terminal region of 26S rRNA and the 3' -terminal region of 5.8S rRNA. We suggest that base pairing between these sequences contributes to the binding between 5.8S and 26S rRNA.

Base Sequence↗

The 3'-terminal region of bacterial 23S ribosomal RNA: structure and homology with the 3'-terminal region of eukaryotic 28S rRNA and with chloroplast 4.5s rRNA.

The sequence of the 110 nucleotide fragment located at the 3'-end of E.coli, P.vulgaris and A.punctata 23S rRNAs has been determined. The homology between the E.coli and P.vulgaris fragments is 90%, whereas that between the E.coli and A.punctate fragments is only 60%. The three rRNA fragments have sequences compatible with a secondary structure consisting of two hairpins. Using chemical and enzymatic methods recently developed for the study of the secondary structure of RNA, we demonstrated that one of these hairpins and part of the other are actually present in the three 3'-terminal fragments in solution. This supports the existence of these two hairpins in the intact molecule. Indeed, results obtained upon limited digestion of intact 23S RNA with T1 RNase were in good agreement with the existence of these two hairpins. We observed that the primary structures of the 3'-terminal regions of yeast 26S rRNA and X.laevis 28S rRNA are both compatible with a secondary structure similar to that found at the 3'-end of bacterial 23S rRNAs. Furthermore, both tobacco and wheat chloroplast 4.5S rRNAs can also be folded in a similar way as the 3'-terminal region of bacterial 23S rRNA, the 3'-end of chloroplast 4.5S rRNAs being complementary to the 5'-end of chloroplast 23S rRNA. This strongly reinforces the hypothesis that chloroplast 4.5S rRNA originates from the 3'-end of bacterial 23S rRNA and suggests that this rRNA may be base-paired with the 5'-end of chloroplast 23S rRNA. Invariant oligonucleotides are present at identical positions in the homologous secondary structures of E.coli 23S, yeast 26S, X.laevis 28S and wheat and tobacco 4.5S rRNAs. Surprisingly, the sequences of these oligonucleotides are not all conserved in the 3'-terminal regions of A.punctata or even P.vulgaris 23S rRNAs. Results obtained upon mild methylation of E.coli 50S subunits with dimethylsulfate strongly suggest that these invariant oligonucleotides are involved in RNA tertiary structure or in RNA-protein interactions.

Animals↗

Level of rRNA, not tRNA, synthesis controls transcription of rRNA and tRNA operons in Escherichia coli.

We have recently proposed a model for the negative feedback control of rRNA and tRNA synthesis in Escherichia coli by products of rRNA operons or their derivatives (e.g., nontranslating ribosomes) (S. Jinks-Robertson, R.L. Gourse, and M. Nomura, Cell 33:865-876, 1983). In this paper, we examined the following questions. (i) Are the spacer tRNAs carried within rRNA operons the products responsible for the regulation of rRNA and tRNA transcription? (ii) Are tRNAs capable of regulating their own syntheses? We measured tRNA accumulations in cells containing plasmids with intact or defective rRNA operons or with tRNA operons. From the results obtained, we conclude that neither the tRNAs encoded within rRNA operons nor the tRNAs encoded in non-rRNA operons are capable of controlling rRNA or tRNA transcription. Therefore, the products responsible for the initial step leading to rRNA and tRNA regulation are rRNAs (or their derivatives).

Aspartate-tRNA Ligase↗

Lessons from an evolving rRNA: 16S and 23S rRNA structures from a comparative perspective.

The 16S and 23S rRNA higher-order structures inferred from comparative analysis are now quite refined. The models presented here differ from their immediate predecessors only in minor detail. Thus, it is safe to assert that all of the standard secondary-structure elements in (prokaryotic) rRNAs have been identified, with approximately 90% of the individual base pairs in each molecule having independent comparative support, and that at least some of the tertiary interactions have been revealed. It is interesting to compare the rRNAs in this respect with tRNA, whose higher-order structure is known in detail from its crystal structure (36) (Table 2). It can be seen that rRNAs have as great a fraction of their sequence in established secondary-structure elements as does tRNA. However, the fact that the former show a much lower fraction of identified tertiary interactions and a greater fraction of unpaired nucleotides than the latter implies that many of the rRNA tertiary interactions remain to be located. (Alternatively, the ribosome might involve protein-rRNA rather than intramolecular rRNA interactions to stabilize three-dimensional structure.) Experimental studies on rRNA are consistent to a first approximation with the structures proposed here, confirming the basic assumption of comparative analysis, i.e., that bases whose compositions strictly covary are physically interacting. In the exhaustive study of Moazed et al. (45) on protection of the bases in the small-subunit rRNA against chemical modification, the vast majority of bases inferred to pair by covariation are found to be protected from chemical modification, both in isolated small-subunit rRNA and in the 30S subunit. The majority of the tertiary interactions are reflected in the chemical protection data as well (45). On the other hand, many of the bases not shown as paired in Fig. 1 are accessible to chemical attack (45). However, in this case a sizeable fraction of them are also protected against chemical modification (in the isolated rRNA), which suggests that considerable higher-order structure remains to be found (although all of it may not involve base-base interactions and so may not be detectable by comparative analysis). The agreement between the higher-order structure of the small-subunit rRNA and protection against chemical modification is not perfect, however; some bases shown to covary canonically are accessible to chemical modification (45).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Base Sequence↗

A novel algorithm for the search of 5S rRNA genes in DNA databases: comparison with other methods and identification of new potential 5S rRNA genes.

We report here a new algorithm for the identification of 5S rRNA genes in DNA databases. Based on an improved version of the general weight matrix method, this search procedure relies on the recognition of three informative regions within 5S rRNA genes, and on the weighted evaluation of the distance between them. As an additional step, the algorithm extends the weight matrix analysis to the full-length 5S rRNA sequence. This combined strategy, which includes a fast, but poorly selective, preliminary search procedure and an auxiliary step, that is slow but highly selective, strongly reduces the number of false positive instances, yielding a total false positive rate of 0.00076%. On the other hand, 97.5% of the 1045 known 5S rRNA genes were correctly recognized by this algorithm, and 29 previously unidentified potential 5S rRNA sequences were uncovered. A detailed analysis of these candidate sequences, including prediction of 5S rRNA secondary structure and checking for the presence of transcriptional termination signals, showed that eight of them correspond to authentic 5S rRNA genes. The performance of this specialized algorithm for the detection of 5S rRNA genes was compared with that of the general hidden Markov model search procedure. Due to their utilization of different filtering rules, the two approaches proved to be highly complementary. Their combined use will thus provide a very effective tool for the detection of dispersed 5S rRNA genes, either active or inactive, in the vertebrate genome.

Algorithms↗

A cyanobacterial strain with all chromosomal rRNA operons inactivated: a single nucleotide mutation of 23S rRNA confers temperature-sensitive phenotypes.

The presence of a multicopy chromosome, with each copy containing two rRNA operons (rrnA and rrnB), has been an obstacle to analysing mutated rRNA in Synechococcus PCC 7942. To create a system for expressing homogeneous mutated rRNA, the chromosomal rrn operons were sequentially inactivated and a final strain was successfully obtained with all the chromosomal rrn operons inactivated but carrying a replaceable multicopy plasmid containing a single rrn operon. The lag time required for growth response on dark/light shift of mutant strains with chromosomal rrnA or rrnB inactivated was increased 50 % over that of the wild-type strain; however, the presence of the plasmid-borne rrn operon restored the lag time. The doubling time of mutant strains carrying only a functional rrnB operon, but not strains carrying only a functional rrnA operon, was significantly longer than that of the wild-type strain. A strain in which essentially all the cellular 23S rRNA contained the mutation C2588A was temperature sensitive at 16 degrees C and 45 degrees C. Position C2588 is equivalent to C2611 of the peptidyltransferase centre in domain V of Escherichia coli 23S rRNA.

Base Sequence↗

The secondary structure of human 28S rRNA: the structure and evolution of a mosaic rRNA gene.

We have determined the secondary structure of the human 28S rRNA molecule based on comparative analysis of available eukaryotic cytoplasmic and prokaryotic large-rRNA gene sequences. Examination of large-rRNA sequences of both distantly and closely related species has enabled us to derive a structure that accounts both for highly conserved sequence tracts and for previously unanalyzed variable-sequence tracts that account for the evolutionary differences in size among the large rRNAs. Human 28S rRNA is composed of two different types of sequence tracts: conserved and variable. They differ in composition, degree of conservation, and evolution. The conserved regions demonstrate a striking constancy of size and sequence. We have confirmed that the conserved regions of large-rRNA molecules are capable of forming structures that are superimposable on one another. The variable regions contain the sequences responsible for the 83% increase in size of the human large-rRNA molecule over that of Escherichia coli. Their locations in the gene are maintained during evolution. They are G + C rich and largely nonhomologous, contain simple repetitive sequences, appear to evolve by frequent recombinational events, and are capable of forming large, stable hairpins. The secondary-structure model presented here is in close agreement with existing prokaryotic 23S rRNA secondary-structure models. The introduction of this model helps resolve differences between previously proposed prokaryotic and eukaryotic large-rRNA secondary-structure models.

Animals↗

The intervening sequence in the 26S rRNA coding region of T. thermophila is transcribed within the largest stable precursor for rRNA.

We studied the transcription of the intervening sequence in the 26S rRNA coding region of the extrachromosomal rDNA molecules in the macronucleus of T. thermophila by hybridization of purified nuclear rRNA precursors or cytoplasmic 26S rRNA to purified native rDNA or specific rDNA restriction fragments. Examination of R loop hybrids in the electron microscope and analyses of S1-protected rDNA fragments in alkaline agarose gels showed that mature 26S rRNA, nuclear pre-26S rRNA and a fraction of the pre-rRNA molecules containing both the sequences for 17S and 26S rRNA all lack the region corresponding to the intervening sequence. The rest of the pre-rRNA molecules, however, hybridize in a colinear fashion to the whole coding region, and thus must contain the intervening sequence. We can conclude from these results that the intervening sequence is transcribed within the primary transcription product of the rDNA, and that the post-transcriptional removal of the intervening RNA sequence is a very early processing event in the organism.

Animals↗

A short fragment of 23S rRNA containing the binding sites for two ribosomal proteins, L24 and L4, is a key element for rRNA folding during early assembly.

Previously we described an in vitro selection variant abbreviated SERF (in vitro selection from random rRNA fragments) that identifies protein binding sites within large RNAs. With this method, a small rRNA fragment derived from the 23S rRNA was isolated that binds simultaneously and independently the ribosomal proteins L4 and L24 from Escherichia coli. Until now the rRNA structure within the ternary complex L24-rRNA-L4 could not be studied due to the lack of an appropriate experimental strategy. Here we tackle the issue by separating the various complexes via native gel-electrophoresis and analyzing the rRNA structure by in-gel iodine cleavage of phosphorothioated RNA. The results demonstrate that during the transition from either the L4 or L24 binary complex to the ternary complex the structure of the rRNA fragment changes significantly. The identified protein binding sites are in excellent agreement with the recently reported crystal structure of the 50S subunit. Because both proteins play a prominent role in early assembly of the large subunit, the results suggest that the identified rRNA fragment is a key element for the folding of the 23S RNA during early assembly. The introduced in-gel cleavage method should be useful when an RNA structure within mixed populations of different but related complexes should be studied.

Base Sequence↗

Parallels in rRNA processing: conserved features in the processing of the internal transcribed spacer 1 in the pre-rRNA from Schizosaccharomyces pombe.

Despite the large differences in their length and nucleotide composition, comparative analyses of the internal transcribed spacer 1 (ITS1) of widely divergent eukaryotes have suggested a simple core structure consisting of a central extended hairpin and lesser hairpin structures at the maturing junctions [Lalev, A. I., and Nazar, R. N. (1998) J. Mol. Biol. 284, 1341-1351]. In this study, the ITS1 in the pre-rRNA transcripts of Schizosaccharomyces pombe cells was examined with respect to structural features that underlie rRNA maturation. When plasmid-associated rRNA genes were expressed in vivo, a deletion of any major hairpin structure significantly reduced or eliminated both small and large subunit RNAs. Only changes in the central extended hairpin or junction regions, however, entirely eliminated plasmid-derived RNAs or resulted in elevated precursor levels. Structure-disrupting base substitutions within the RAC protein complex binding site in the extended hairpin indicated that the secondary structure was critical for rRNA maturation; composition or other changes with respect to the binding site had only modest effects. A similar disruption at the junction with the 18S rRNA also had striking effects on rRNA maturation, including a highly elevated level of unprocessed precursor and a surprisingly critical effect on 5.8S rRNA production. As previously observed with the 3' external transcribed spacer, the results are consistent with a maturation mechanism in which an initial cleavage in the 5' junction region may be directed by the RAC protein complex. Although not critical to rRNA processing, analyses of termini based on S1 nuclease protection as well as cleavage studies, in vitro, with Pac1 ribonuclease raise the possibility that in eukaryotes, as previously observed in bacteria, the RNase III homologues normally initiate the separation of the subunit RNAs.

Binding Sites↗

The Saccharomyces cerevisiae small GTPase, Gsp1p/Ran, is involved in 3' processing of 7S-to-5.8S rRNA and in degradation of the excised 5'-A0 fragment of 35S pre-rRNA, both of which are carried out by the exosome.

Dis3p, a subunit of the exosome, interacts directly with Ran. To clarify the relationship between the exosome and the RanGTPase cycle, a series of temperature-sensitive Saccharomyces cerevisiae dis3 mutants were isolated and their 5.8S rRNA processing was compared with processing in strains with mutations in a S. cerevisiae Ran homologue, Gsp1p. In both dis3 and gsp1 mutants, 3' processing of 7S-to-5.8S rRNA was blocked at three identical sites in an allele-specific manner. In contrast, the 5' end of 5.8S rRNA was terminated normally in gsp1 and in dis3. Inhibition of 5.8S rRNA maturation in gsp1 was rescued by overexpression of nuclear exosome components Dis3p, Rrp4p, and Mtr4p, but not by a cytoplasmic exosome component, Ski2p. Furthermore, gsp1 and dis3 accumulated the 5'-A0 fragment of 35S pre-rRNA, which is also degraded by the exosome, and the level of 27S rRNA was reduced. Neither 5.8S rRNA intermediates nor 5'-A0 fragments were observed in mutants defective in the nucleocytoplasmic transport, indicating that Gsp1p regulates rRNA processing through Dis3p, independent of nucleocytoplasmic transport.

Active Transport, Cell Nucleus↗

The environment of 5S rRNA in the ribosome: cross-links to the GTPase-associated area of 23S rRNA.

Two photoreactive diazirine derivatives of uridine were used to study contacts between 5S rRNA and 23 rRNA in situ in Escherichia coli ribosomes. 2'-Amino-2'-deoxy-uridine or 5-methyleneaminouridine were introduced into 5S rRNA by T7 transcription. After incorporation of these uridine analogues into the transcript their amino groups were modified with 4-[3-(trifluoromethyl)-3 H -diazirin-3-yl]benzyl isothiocyanate or the N -hydroxysuccinimide ester of 4-[3-(trifluoromethyl)-3 H -diazirin-3-yl]benzoic acid respectively. 5S rRNA carrying the photoreactive diazirine groups (referred to as the 2'-aminoribose derivative and the 5-methyleneamino derivative respectively) was reconstituted into 50S subunits or 70S ribosomes. After mild UV irradiation cross-links formed to 23S rRNA were analysed by standard procedures. All of the observed cross-links involved residue U89 of the 5S rRNA. Three nucleotides of 23S rRNA were cross-linked to this residue with the 5-methyleneamino derivative, namely U958, G1022 and G1138. With the 2'-aminoribose derivative a single cross-link was found, to U958. The significance of these cross-links for our understanding of the structure and function of 5S rRNA and its environment in the ribosome are discussed.

Base Sequence↗

Cloning and sequence analysis of two copies of a 23S rRNA gene from Helicobacter pylori and association of clarithromycin resistance with 23S rRNA mutations.

In this study, two identical copies of a 23S-5S gene cluster, which are separately situated within the Helicobacter pylori UA802 chromosome, were cloned and sequenced. Comparison of the DNA sequence of the H. pylori 23S rRNA gene with known sequences of other bacterial 23S rRNA genes indicated that the H. pylori UA802 23S rRNA genes are closely related to those of Campylobacter spp. and therefore belong in the proposed Proteobacteria subdivision. The 5'-terminal nucleotide T or A of the 23S rRNA is close to a Pribnow box which could be a -10 region of the transcription promoter for the 23S rRNA gene, suggesting that a posttranscriptional process is likely not involved in the maturation of the H. pylori 23S rRNA. Clinical isolates of H. pylori resistant to clarithromycin were examined by using natural transformation and pulsed-field gel electrophoresis. Cross-resistance to clarithromycin and erythromycin, which was transferred by natural transformation from the Cla(r) Ery(r) donor strain H. pylori E to the Cla(s) Ery(s) recipient strain H. pylori UA802, was associated with an single A-to-G transition mutation at position 2142 of both copies of the 23S rRNA in UA802 Cla(r) Ery(r) mutants. The transformation frequency for Cla(r) and Ery(r) was found to be approximately 2 x 10(-6) transformants per viable cell, and the MICs of both clarithromycin and erythromycin for the Cla(r) Ery(r) mutants were equal to those for the donor isolate. Our results confirmed the previous findings that mutations at positions 2142 and 2143 of the H. pylori 23S rRNA gene are responsible for clarithromycin resistance and suggest that acquisition of clarithromycin resistance in H. pylori could also result from horizontal transfer.

Anti-Bacterial Agents↗

Processing and termination of 23S rRNA-5S rRNA-tRNA(Gly) primary transcripts in Thermus thermophilus HB8.

The two 23S rRNA-5S rRNA-tRNAGly operons from the extreme thermophilic eubacterium Thermus thermophilus HB8 were used to characterized the in vivo processing and termination of 23S rRNA-5S rRNA-tRNAGly primary transcripts in this organism by nuclease S1 mapping. A processing site in the pre-23S rRNA 3'-flanking region is located approximately 25 nucleotides upstream of 5S rRNA and precedes a putative 23S-5S rRNA spacer antitermination box A. Cleavage at this site and 5S rRNA 5' end formation were shown to be inseparable events. Termination of transcription at the uridine cluster following the termination-associated hairpin was shown to be efficient but leaky. Subsequent to the operon, a functional promoter was detected whose -35 box coincided with the uridine-rich termination region. The promoter directed synthesis of a beta-galactosidase fusion protein in Escherichia coli.

Base Sequence↗

Phylogeny of the Mycoplasma mycoides cluster as determined by sequence analysis of the 16S rRNA genes from the two rRNA operons.

The so-called Mycoplasma mycoides cluster consists of six species or subspecies of mycoplasmas (Mollicutes). These species are pathogenic for ruminants and some of them are of great concern in veterinary medicine. The members of the M. mycoides cluster have two rRNA operons (rrnA and rrnB). The nucleotide sequences of the 16S rRNA genes of 10 strains, representing all of the known species and subspecies of the M. mycoides cluster, were determined by direct automated solid-phase DNA sequencing. The sequences of both rRNA operons were determined by a novel strategy involving in vitro amplification by PCR with one operon-specific primer pair and one general primer pair. Interestingly, sequence differences (polymorphisms) between the two operons were observed for all strains. Two strains of M. capricolum subsp. capripneumoniae were sequenced, and 15 polymorphisms were found in the type strain (F38) and 17 polymorphisms were found in the other strain (4/2LC). Eight polymorphisms were found in the 16S rRNA genes of the M. mycoides subsp. mycoides small-colony type, and sequence length variations in a poly(A) region were observed in the 16S rRNA genes of the two operons of this species. Secondary-structure analysis showed that polymorphisms were present in both stem and loop regions. The nucleotide substitutions in the polymorphic sites of the stem regions often resulted in a change from a canonical to a noncanonical base pairing or vice versa. A compensatory mutation was never observed in the other nucleotide of the base pair. Phylogenetic analysis based on the 16S rRNA sequences indicated that Mycoplasma sp. strain PG50 should be included in the M. capricolum species group. Furthermore, the 16S rRNA sequences of M. mycoides subsp. capri and the M. mycoides subsp. mycoides large-colony type were 99.9% identical. We therefore suggest that these species be reclassified in a common species group (for instance, "Mycoplasma capri") distinct from the M. mycoides subsp. mycoides small-colony type, which formed an intermediate branch between the M. capricolum species group and the M. capri species group.

Base Sequence↗

Release of ribosome-bound 5S rRNA upon cleavage of the phosphodiester bond between nucleotides A54 and A55 in 5S rRNA.

Reticulocyte lysates contain ribosome-bound and free populations of 5S RNA. The free population is sensitive to nuclease cleavage in the internal loop B, at the phosphodiester bond connecting nucleotides A54 and A55. Similar cleavage sites were detected in 5S rRNA in 60S subunits and 80S ribosomes. However, 5S rRNA in reticulocyte polysomes is insensitive to cleavage unless ribosomes are salt-washed. This suggests that a translational factor protects the backbone surrounding A54 from cleavage in polysomes. Upon nuclease treatment of mouse 60S subunits or reticulocyte lysates a small population of ribosomes released its 5S rRNA together with ribosomal protein L5. Furthermore, rRNA sequences from 5.8S, 28S and 18S rRNA were released. In 18S rRNA the sequences mainly originate from the 630 loop and stem (helix 18) in the 5' domain, whereas in 28S rRNA a majority of fragments is derived from helices 47 and 81 in domains III and V, respectively. We speculate that this type of rRNA-fragmentation may mimic a ribosome degradation pathway.

Animals↗

Development of a 9600-clone procedure for oligonucleotide fingerprinting of rRNA genes: utilization to identify soil bacterial rRNA genes that correlate in abundance with the development of avocado root rot.

Oligonucleotide fingerprinting of rRNA genes (OFRG) is an array-based method that generates microbial community profiles through analysis of rRNA gene clone libraries. The original OFRG method allowed 1536 clones to be analyzed per experiment. This report describes a procedure for analyzing 9600 clones per experiment, including a new probe set for bacterial analysis, and improved data processing and statistical analysis tools. The software tools are available at the OFRG website (). Use of the 9600-clone procedure was demonstrated by examining the bacterial rRNA gene compositions of soils subjected to various temperature treatments. These treatments produced a series of soils with a range of abilities to suppress avocado root rot, enabling the identification of bacterial rRNA genes that correlate in abundance with root rot suppressiveness. OFRG analysis of these soils produced 8876 bacterial rRNA gene fingerprints grouped into 5123 clusters, or operational taxonomic units (OTUs). Eleven OTUs exhibited a positive correlation between the number of clones and the percentage of healthy roots. An in silico analysis was performed to examine the relationship between the number of rRNA genes analyzed and the number of correlates (rRNA gene-avocado root rot symptoms) identified. As the number of clones decreased, fewer correlates were identified. To further increase the throughput of the OFRG method, use of a glass slide-fluorescent probe microarray format was also explored.

DNA Fingerprinting↗

Feedback regulation of rRNA and tRNA synthesis and accumulation of free ribosomes after conditional expression of rRNA genes.

We have constructed a conditional rRNA gene expression system by fusing a plasmid-encoded rrnB operon to the lambda PL promoter/operator. It was thereby possible to study the events that lead to the regulation of chromosomal rRNA and tRNA synthesis after overproduction of rRNA. rRNA induction resulted in a 2-fold increase in 30S and 50S free ribosomal subunits, whereas the polysome fraction was unaffected. Overproduction of rRNA and "free" ribosomes produced a large repression of rRNA and tRNA synthesis from chromosomal genes and a smaller increase in the concentration of guanosine tetraphosphate. These results lend support to the ribosome feedback regulation model: rRNA and tRNA operons are negatively regulated, either directly or through some intermediate, by free, nontranslating ribosomes.

Bacteriophage lambda↗