The effect of metals on protein biosynthesis in rabbit reticulocyte lysates and whole cells.

Six metal chlorides were tested as inhibitors of the protein synthesis in reticulocyte lysate systems supplemented with ATP, GTP, hemin and amino acids. At concentrations of less than 10(-4) M, HgCl2 and CuCl2 were effective in reducing initial rates of [3H]leucine incorporation into protein while CdCl2, NiCl2, PbCl2 and ZnCl2 were poor inhibitors. It is concluded that HgCl2 and CuCl2 are potent inhibitors of the process of eukaryotic protein biosynthesis.