Polysome-ribosome distribution in isogenic RC(str) and RC(rel) strains of Escherichia coli.

Study of the relative proportions of ribosomes and polysomes released by a standardized lysing procedure from isogenic RC(str) and RC(rel) strains of Escherichia coli shows that a 20-min period of amino acid starvation of RC(str) bacteria reduces the fraction of ribosomes recovered in polysomes to about 60% of its value characteristic of exponentially growing cells: A similar starvation treatment of the RC(rel) bacteria causes no appreciable reduction in the fraction of polysomal ribosomes.