Cellular Macromolecule Synthesis in Escherichia coli Infected with Bacteriophage MS2

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Abstract
In Escherichia coli cells infected with the bacteriophage MS2, pronounced inhibition of ribosomal RNA synthesis occurs amounting to 50%, of that of the uninfected control cells at 30 min post‐infection. Over the same period the synthesis of tRNA, mRNA and total protein remains close to the level of uninfected E. coli, yet the synthesis of host protein is gradually replaced by that of viral origin. After 30–35 min post‐infection the macromolecular synthesis of all the types under study significantly decreases.It is suggested that suppression of host protein synthesis is caused not by selective inhibition at transcription or translation level, but is rather a result of competition between E. coli mRNA and MS2 RNA. On the other hand, exclusive suppression of only ribosomal RNA synthesis may arise from changes in the regulation of transcription of ribosomal RNA locus.

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