Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

RNA-synthesis inAcetabularia

II. RNA-synthesis in isolated chloroplasts

  • Published:
Protoplasma Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Summary

RNA-synthesis by isolated chloroplasts fromAcetabularia mediterranea andPolyphysa cliftonii has been studied under conditions which exclude the possibility of errors due to contamination of the preparations by nuclei, nuclear fragments or microorganisms.

Radioactive RNA isolated from chloroplasts has a sucrose density gradient sedimentation profile with peaks near 23 s, 16 s, 9 s, and 4 s. The 23 s and 16 s peaks were identified as ribosomal RNA. The 4 s component is considered to be t-RNA. The nature of the 9 s-peak is unknown.

Incorporation of RNA precursors is inhibited by darkness, actinomycin and DNase.

The incorporation of any one of the 5'-nucleoside triphosphates of RNA was shown to occur independently of the presence of the other three nucleoside triphosphates in the medium. These results have been taken as further evidence of the presence of an endogenous pool of nucleoside triphosphates within the chloroplasts.

Anion exchange chromatography of alkaline hydrolysates of the newly synthesized RNA has shown that the precursors are incorporated into the four 2'(3')-nucleoside monophosphates of RNA.

The significance of these findings to the question of autonomy of chloroplasts has been discussed. It has been concluded that the amount of template DNA available in the chloroplasts is not sufficient to support a complete genetic autonomy of the chloroplasts.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Arnon, D. J., 1949: Copper enzymes in isolated chloroplasts. Polyphenoloxidase inBeta vulgaris. Plant Physiol.24, 1–15.

    Google Scholar 

  • Berger, S., 1967: RNA-Synthese in isolierten Chloroplasten vonAcetabularia. Doctoral thesis, University of Cologne.

  • Brachet, J., et A. Goffeau, 1964: Le rôle des acides déoxyribonucléiques (DNA) dans la synthése des protéines chloroplastiques chezAcetabularia. C. R. Acad. Sci. (Paris)259, 2899–2901.

    Google Scholar 

  • Brawerman, G., and J. M. Eisenstadt, 1964: Template and ribosomal ribonueleic acids associated with the cnloroplasts and the cytoplasm ofEuglena gracilis. J. Mol. Biol.10, 403–411.

    Google Scholar 

  • Clauss, H., 1958: Über quantitative Veränderungen der Chloroplasten- und cytoplasmatischen Proteine in kernlosen Teilen vonAcetabularia mediterranea. Planta52, 334–350.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gebicki, J. M., and S. Freed, 1966: Microdetermination of nucleotides in hydrolyzates of RNA. Anal. Biochem.14, 253–257.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gibor, A., and M. Izawa, 1963: The DNA content of the chloroplasts ofAcetabularia. Proc. Nat. Acad. Sci. (Wash.)50, 1164–1169.

    Google Scholar 

  • Goffeau, A., and J. Brachet, 1965: Deoxyribonucleic acid-dependent incorporation of amino acids into the proteins of chloroplasts isolated from anucleateAcetabularia fragments. Biochim. Biophys. Acta95, 302–313.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hämmerling, J., 1934: Über formbildende Substanzen beiAcetabularia mediterranea, ihre räumliche und zeitliche Verteilung und ihre Herkunft. Arch. Entwicklungsmech. Organ.131, 1–81.

    Google Scholar 

  • Holley, R. W., J. Apgar, G. A. Everett, J. T. Madison, M. Marquisee, S. H. Merrill, J. R. Penswick, and A. Zamir, 1965: Structure of a ribonucleic acid. Science147, 1462–1465.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hurwitz, J., J. J. Furth, M. Malamy, and M. Alexander, 1962: The role of the deoxyribonucleic acid in ribonucleic acid synthesis, III. The inhibition of the enzymatic synthesis of ribonucleic acid and deoxyribonucleic acid by Actinomycin D and Proflavin. Proc. Nat. Acad. Sci. (Wash.)48, 1222–1230.

    Google Scholar 

  • Joussaume, M., and R. Bourdu, 1966: Conversion of carbon-14-labelled orotic acid into pyrimidine nucleotides by chloroplasts. Nature210, 1363–1364.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kirk, J. T. O., 1964: DNA-dependent RNA synthesis in chloroplast preparations. Biochem. Biophys. Res. Comm.14, 393–397.

    Google Scholar 

  • —, 1964: Studies of RNA synthesis in chloroplast preparations. Biochem. Biophys. Res. Comm.16, 233–238.

    Google Scholar 

  • —, 1966: Nature and function of chloroplast DNA. In: Biochemistry of chloroplasts, T. W. Goodwin, ed., vol. 1, 319–340. Academic Press, New York.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kurland, C. G., 1960: Molecular characterization of ribonucleic acid fromEscherichia coli ribosomes. J. Mol. Biol.2, 83–91.

    Google Scholar 

  • Nakada, D., 1965: Formation of ribosomes by a “relaxed” mutant ofEscherichia coli. J. Mol. Biol.12, 695–725.

    Google Scholar 

  • Parthier, B., und R. Wollgiehn, 1966: Nucleinsäuren und Proteinsynthese in Plastiden. In: Probleme der biologischen Reduplikation, 3. wiss. Konf. Ges. Deutscher Naturforscher: und Ärzte, Semmering bei Wien 1965, P. Sitte, ed., vol. 3, p. 244. Springer-Verlag, Berlin.

    Google Scholar 

  • Schweiger, H. G., und H. J. Bremer, 1961: Cytoplasmatische RNS-Synthese in kernlosen Acetabularien. Biochim. Biophys. Acta51, 50–59.

    Google Scholar 

  • — —, und E. Schweiger, 1963: Der Ribonucleinsäure-Stoffwechsel in Erythrocyten, I. Freie Nucleotide und Phosphateinbau in kernhaltigen Erythrocyten. Hoppe-Seyler's Z. Physiol. Chem.332, 17–26.

    Google Scholar 

  • — —, 1964: DNA-dependent RNA synthesis in chloroplasts ofAcetabularia. Biochim. Biophys. Acta87, 533–535.

    Google Scholar 

  • —, 1964: Ribonuclease-Aktivität inAcetabularia. Planta68, 247–255.

    Google Scholar 

  • —, W. L. Dillard, A. Gibor, and S. Berger, 1967: RNA-synthesis inAcetabularia. I. RNA-synthesis in enucleated calls. Protoplasma64, 1–12.

    Google Scholar 

  • Semal, J., D. Spencer, Y. T. Kim, and S. G. Wildman, 1964: Properties of a ribonucleic acid synthesizing system in cell-free extracts of tobacco leaves. Biochim. Biophys. Acta91, 205–216.

    Google Scholar 

  • Traut, R. R., 1966: Acrylamide gel electrophoresis of radioactive ribosomal protein. J. Mol. Biol.21, 571–576.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ts'o, P. O. P., 1962: The ribosomes-ribonucleoprotein particles. Ann. Rev. Plant Physiol.13, 45–80.

    Google Scholar 

  • Weiss, S. B., 1960: Enzymatic incorporation of ribonucleoside triphosphates into the interpolynucleotide linkages of ribonucleic acid. Proc. Nat. Acad. Sci. (Wash.)46, 1020–1030.

    Google Scholar 

  • Werz, G., 1965: Determination and realization of morphogenesis inAcetabularia. Brookhaven Symposia in Biology18, 185–203.

    Google Scholar 

  • Zachau, H. G., D. Dütting und H. Feldmann, 1966: Nukleotidsequenzen zweier serinspezifischer Transfer-Ribonucleinsäuren. Angew. Chem.78, 392–393.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Author notes

  1. Sigrid Berger

    Present address: Max-Planck-Institut für Meeresbiologie, Wilhelmshaven, Germany

Authors and Affiliations

    Authors
    1. Sigrid Berger
      View author publications

      You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

    Additional information

    The experiments described in this paper are submitted to the Mathematisch-Naturwissenschaftlihen Fakultät der Universität Köln in partial fulfillment of the requirements for a doctor's degree.

    Rights and permissions

    Reprints and permissions

    About this article

    Cite this article

    Berger, S. RNA-synthesis inAcetabularia . Protoplasma 64, 13–25 (1967). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01257379

    Download citation

    • Received:

    • Issue Date:

    • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01257379

    Keywords

    Search

    Navigation