Index >> Ribosomes >> Dissociation and Reassociation of Ribosomes During Protein Synthesis

Dissociation and Reassociation of Ribosomes During Protein Synthesis - Dissociation and reformation of ribosomal subunits takes place at some stage in protein synthesis.

This is shown by experiments with E. coli. Ribosomes made 'heavy' by isotopes were mixed with 'light' ribosomes. When protein synthesis occured some hybrid ribosomes were formed, which had one heavy and one light subunit.

If after mixing light and heavy ribosomes, protein synthesis was blocked by sparsomycin, no hybrid ribosomes were formed. This shows that exchange of subunits takes place only during protein synthesis.