Oligonucleotide-Ribosome-AA-sRNA Interactions

The binding of H3-oligonucleotides to ribosomes in the presence and absence of AA-sRNA was studied in collaboration with Dr. Marshall W. Nirenberg. Reaction mixtures contained the components described in the legend of Fig. 1 and the nitrocellulose filter assay of Nirenberg and Leder (1964, Science 145: 1399) was employed. The rates of H3-UUC and C14-Phe-sRNA binding to ribosomes are shown in Fig. 1. H3-UUC binding (Fig. 1A) is stimulated in the presence of Phe-sRNA. Likewise, C14-Phe-sRNA binding (Fig. 1B) is stimulated in the presence of UUC. The rates of H3-UUC and C14-Phe-sRNA attachment are very similar, and approximately equimolar quantities of both components attach to ribosomes. The attachment, of H3-trinucleotides and C14-AA-sRNA to ribosomes