EFFECTS OF HYDROSTATIC-PRESSURE ON THE ACTIVITY OF RAT RIBOSOME AND CELL-FREE TRANSLATION SYSTEM

The effects of high hydrostatic pressure on the protein synthesis acti vity of rat liver ribosome and the reconstructed cell-free translation system were studied. The results indicated that the activity of the r ibosome decreased with the increase in applied pressure and the activi ty was totally lost as pressure went up to 2,400 bar, but there was a plateau approximately from 300 to 1,200 bar where the activity only ha d a minor change. The activity of the cell-free translation system see ms to be more sensitive to pressure. Its activity was entirely lost wh en the pressure was up to 900 bar. The activity of rat ribosome and th e cell-free translation system treated by pressure below 900 bar could be almost completely restored by incubation after releasing the press ure, but could be partially restored at higher pressure.