EFFECT OF 4.5S RNA DEPLETION ON ESCHERICHIA-COLI PROTEIN-SYNTHESIS AND SECRETION

We examined the synthesis of individual proteins following depletion o f 4.5S RNA by using a strain deficient in the induction of heat shock proteins. We found that initially the synthesis of all proteins was eq ually affected, and the peptide elongation rate was reduced by approxi mately 10%. For up to 1 generation time after the onset of inhibition of total protein synthesis, the processing of secreted proteins was un affected. After further depletion of 4.5S RNA, accumulation of precurs ors of secreted proteins was observed under some growth conditions.