DNA-dependent in vitro synthesis of fibosomal proteins, protein elongation factors, and RNA polymerase subunit alpha: inhibition by ppGpp.

We have previously shown that the synthesis of ribosomal proteins (r proteins) in E. coli cells is under stringent control (Dennis and Nomura, 1974). Since guanosine tetraphosphate (ppGpp) has been implicated in stringent control, we examined the effects of ppGpp on the in vitro synthesis of r proteins directed by DNA from transducing phage lambdafus3 and lambdarifd18. lambdafus3 carries genes for protein elongation factors EF-Tu and EF-G, and RNA polymerase subunit alpha, in addition to genes for approximately 27 r proteins. lambdarifd18 carries genes for EF-Tu, RNA polymerase subunits beta and beta1, and a set of rRNAs, in addition to genes for approximately five r proteins. We have shown that low concentrations of ppGpp (0.2-0.3 mM) specifically inhibit DNA-dependent r protein synthesis in this system, and that this inhibition takes place directly, rather than as a consequence of the inhibition of rRNA synthesis by ppGpp. In addition, we have also shown that ppGpp inhibits the synthesis of EF-G, EF-Tu, and RNA polymerase subunit alpha, as well as rRNAs.