Interaction of Polyamines With Ribosomes and Rna*

Polyamines interact with all types of RNA l-* and and they probably have similar affinities for both DNA and RNA.I They also interact with intact ribosomes 9 % lo favoring the association of ribosome subunits.In both bacteria 11 and animal tissues 12 there is a close relationship between the rate of RNA synthesis and the rate of polyamine synthesis.An understanding of the nature and extent of the interaction between polyamines and RNA may help to elucidate the biochemical functions of polyamines.Two questions are considered in this paper: ( 1 ) In the intracellular environment, is most of the spermine bound to RNA and ( 2 ) Does spermine interact randomly with ribosomal RNA (r-RNA) of intact ribosomes, or are there regions with which it has either preferential affinity or with which it is unable to react since the regions are inaccessible?To answer the second question in detail will require