Regulation of Protein Synthesis Initiation in HeLa Cells Deprived of Single Essential Amino Acids

In HeLa cells deprived of valine, histidine, or methionine initiation of protein synthesis decreases rapidly and disaggregation of polyribosomes also occurs. The mechanism of inhibition does not seem to involve the supply of RNA in the cell, and thus it differs from the initiation of inhibition at elevated temperatures. Polyribosomes rapidly form again if the missing amino acid is restored, even in the presence of actinomycin D.