Isoproterenol induces a ribosomal modification in the heart and the skeletal muscle of hamsters.

The protein synthesis activity of heart, skeletal muscle and liver polysomes from isoprotenerol-treated and control hamsters has been compared in an in vitro non-initiating translation system. Heart and skeletal muscle polysomes from treated hamsters were less active than controls and required a higher magnesium concentration for optimal protein synthesis. These results suggest that there is a conformational modification in heart and skeletal muscle ribosomes from isoprotenerol-treated hamsters. No such change was observed with ribosomes from the liver of isoproterenol-treated hamsters.