The synthesis of ribosomes by a mutant of Escherichia coli

1. When the methionine-requiring mutant 58–161 of Escherichia coli was starved of methionine, ribonucleic acid was made in the absence of protein synthesis. 2. Most of this ribonucleic acid was similar to that found in ribosomes but was contained in particles differing from ribosomes both in sedimentation coefficient and in chromatographic behaviour on diethylaminoethylcellulose. 3. When methionine was added to a starved culture, the ribonucleic acid synthesized during starvation was almost completely undegraded as growth resumed. A transient loss of 5–10% could be largely attributed to breakdown of messenger ribonucleic acid accumulated during starvation. 4. After the addition of methionine, ribosomes were formed from the particles, and during this period preferential synthesis of ribosomal protein took place. 5. It is suggested that under these conditions the direct synthesis of ribosomes from the particles may occur.