Stringent control of ribosomal protein gene expression in Escherichia coli.

The regulation of the expression of ribosomal protein genes was examined during partial inhibition of tRNA aminoacylation in isogenic rel(+) and rel(-) strains of E. coli B carrying a temperature-sensitive mutation in valyl-tRNA synthetase (EC 6.1.1.9) gene. Measurements of the differential synthesis rate of ribosomal protein, alpha(r) (ribosomal protein synthesis rate/total protein synthesis rate), indicate that ribosomal protein synthesis is regulated directly or indirectly by availability of charged tRNA, and that the synthesis of ribosomal protein, like the synthesis of rRNA, is subject to the influence of the rel gene control system.