Synthesis of ribosomal proteins in merodiploid strains of Escherichia coli.

The regulation of the synthesis of r-proteins in Escherichia coli was investigated by increasing the dosage of the genes for a limited number of ribosomal proteins (r-proteins) using either transducing phage lambda fus 3 (Lindahl et al. 1977) or lambda rifd 18 (Kirschbaum and Konrad 1973). During exponential growth the presence in the cell of either lysogenised transducing phage did not increase the rate of synthesis or degradation of any of the 31 r-proteins whose genes are duplicated. Experiments were also performed to determine whether r-protein synthesis during the period of unbalanced r-protein synthesis that follows nutritional enrichment was sensitive to an increase in gene dosage. Duplication of the 27 r-protein genes on lambda fus 3 did not alter the rate of synthesis of any of the r-proteins after enrichment. However, gene dosage effects were detected for at least 3 of the r-proteins whose genes were duplicated on lambda rifd 18.