TEMPERATURE-DEPENDENT DECAY OF RNA AND OF PROTEIN SYNTHESIS IN A HEAT-SYNCHRONIZED PROTOZOAN

Abstract

Cultures of Tetrahymena pyriformis were incubated in the presence of C14 -labeled amino acids and actinomycin D at 29 or 34[degree]. Total protein synthesis is reduced to about 30% at 34[degree]. A heat shock (30 min, 34) causes a more rapid decay of prelabeled RNA. Although the rate of incorporation of labeled amino acids into protein is lower in cultures subjected to a heat shock in the absence of actinomycin D, RNA polymerase appears to be slightly stimulated under these conditions. The heat effect on RNA decay and protein synthesis is strain-specific.