Effect of zinc deficiency on protein synthesis in cultured tobacco plant cells

Abstract

Zinc deficiency remarkably depressed the growth of cultured tobacco cells. When the zinc concentration in the cells decreased to a level of less than 70 μg/g DW, the 80S ribosome content of the cells was remarkably reduced. The decrease in the zinc concentration to a level of less than 50 μg/g DW caused a decrease in the protein content. SDS-PAGE patterns of proteins showed that the composition of the protein remained almost unchanged, although the amount was remarkably reduced.