Unbalanced ribosomal protein synthesis in a strain of Escherichia coli containing a cloned, truncated 16-S ribosomal RNA gene.

An Escherichia coli K12 strain, carrying the promotor and proximal portion of the 16-S rRNA gene from rrnB cloned in the high-copy-number plasmid psF2124, has been examined for abnormalities in ribosome biogenesis. Both ribosomal RNA accumulation and ribosome content are depressed in this strain as compared to the control strain carrying the plasmid vector alone. The rate of total protein synthesis, however, appears to be normal. In contrast, the rate of ribosomal protein synthesis, relative to total protein synthesis, is elevated. The rates of synthesis of individual ribosomal proteins were determined and found to vary greatly, ranging from severe under-synthesis (displayed especially by proteins L7/L12) to massive over-synthesis (displayed particularly in the case of protein S7). Analysis of the rates of synthesis of other proteins coded for by the S12 operon revealed that protein S12 was moderately over-produced, but elongation factors EF-G and EF-Tu appear to be synthesized at the same rate as EF-Ts, all three being moderately under-synthesized relative to total soluble proteins.