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Stabilization of 70S Ribosomes by Spermidine

Abstract

RIBOSOMAL subunits in Escherichia coli dissociate and reasso-ciate after each round of translation1, but it is not known whether separation occurs at termination of protein synthesis2, or whether they are released as “free” 70S ribosomes and subsequently dissociate3. The existence of free 70S ribosomes in vivo is controversial because sedimentation analyses of cell extracts using K+ as the monovalent cation demonstrate significant numbers of 70S ribosomes, but when Na+ is used 30S and 50S subunits predominate4,5.

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HARDY, S., TURNOCK, G. Stabilization of 70S Ribosomes by Spermidine. Nature New Biology 229, 17–19 (1971). https://doi.org/10.1038/newbio229017a0

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