Induction of helical arrays of ribosomes by vinblastine sulfate in Escherichia coli.

Physiological concentrations of vinblastine sulfate elicited ribosomal helices in large numbers in growing cultures of the osmotically sensitive mutant sud 24 and, after treatment with ethylenediaminetetraacetate, also in the K-12 strain. The helices were usually seen at the division plane and were often connected to the membrane. This method of induction of ribosomal helices offers a unique system for studying in vivo structure and function of the translational apparatus in relation to other cell components.