Effects of eucaryotic initiation factor 3 on eucaryotic ribosomal subunit equilibrium and kinetics.

In order to understand the possible role of eucaryotic initiator factor 3 (eIF-3) in maintaining a pool of eucaryotic subunits, we have measured the effects of eIF-3 on the equilibria and kinetics of ribosomal subunit association and dissociation. The ribosomal subunit interactions have been studied by laser light scattering, which does not perturb the system. We find that eIF-3 reduces the apparent association rate of reticulocyte, wheat germ, and Artemia ribosomes. The kinetics of the reassociation for a shift in [Mg2+] from 0.5 to 6 mM are best explained by a model where eIF-3 dissociates from the 40S subunits prior to association of the 40S and 60S subunits. Static titrations indicate there is some binding of eIF-3 to 80S ribosomes at lower [Mg2+].