Inactivation of ribosomes by an inhibitor of protein synthesis from Salmonella enteritidis.

Sonic extracts of Salmonella enteritidis contain a factor which inhibits protein synthesis in cell-free systems by irreversibly inactivating ribosomes. The extent of the inactivation of ribosomes depends on the system used to assay protein synthesis, natural mRNA translation being more strongly inhibited than poly(U) translation. The inhibitory power of the Salmonella factor is destroyed by trypsin and by 5% mercaptoethanol. Placental RNase inhibitor is unable to protect ribosomes from inactivation.