Institut für Biologie III der Universität Freiburg, Schänzlestr. 1, D-7800 Freiburg, Federal Republic of Germany
Abstract:
From a rabbit reticulocyte postpolysomal supernatant a fraction has been isolated which is enriched in ribosomal particles sedimenting at 50S. This fraction is efficiently in vitro translated predominantly into α-globin. Besides the RNAs and proteins of the small ribosomal subunit the 50S particle contains α-globin mRNA and additional high molecular weight proteins, most of which correspond to polypeptides of the initiation factors eIF-2 and eIF-3. The 50S particle may represent a native mRNA·40S·eIF′s·Met-tRNAf·GTP] complex which may occur in vivo as a translatable intermediate in the initiation sequence.