Membranes in polyribosome formation by rabbit reticulocytes.

When rabbit reticulocytes are incubated with n-butanol, an agent disruptive to the structure and function of cellular membranes, there is a rapid disaggregation of the polyribosomes. Reaggregation is promoted when the n-butanol is diluted below a critical concentration or when the cells are washed free of the alcohol and the incubation is continued. Neither disaggregation nor regeneration will occur in the absence of protein synthesis. These observations suggest that integrity of the reticulocyte membrane is necessary for the attachment of ribosomes to messenger RNA and for the formation of polyribosomes.