Implications of electrostatic potentials on ribosomal proteins.

Potentiometric studies of ribosomal particles 30S, 50S, and 70S, were designed to investigate possible implications of the electrostatic potentials developed by the 16S and 23S rRNA fractions. Release of protons and proton titrations of these ribosomal fractions were examined as a function of Mg2+ and K+ concentrations. The effects of these cations fit the polyelectrolyte theory remarkably well and are discussed accordingly.