Bovine mitochondrial ribosomes: effect of cations and heterologous dissociation factors on subunit interactions.

The effects of cations and ribosome dissociation factors on the equilibrium between the bovine mitochondrial ribosome and its subunits has been investigated. As observed with other ribosomes, Mg2+ ions promote subunit association while monovalent cations promote subunit dissociation. E. coli IF-3 will prevent the reassociation of mitochondrial 28 S and 39 S subunits. However, at least 5-fold higher concentrations of IF-3 are required with mitochondrial subunits than are required with bacterial subunits. The cytoplasmic factor eIF-6, has no detectable activity in preventing mitochondrial ribosomal subunit association.