Effect of low temperature on protein-synthesizing activity and conservability of polysome in bacteria.

Abstract

Protein-synthesizing activity at 0.degree. C of Pseudomonas aeruginosa, a mesophile, decreased by chilling at 0.degree. and was lost completely after 12 h of the treatment. The relative amount of polysomes was not changed by chilling, and the addition of rifampin did not affect the dissociation of polysomes at 0.degree.. The loss of viability by the chilling reported previously may be attributed to the cold sensitivity in an elongation-termination process of the protein synthesis. In Pseudomonas sp. strain 351, a psychrotroph, and Vibrio sp. strain ABE-1, a psychrophile, protein-synthesizing activities at 0.degree. were increased by chilling, but the polysome levels temporarily dropped by the chilling and recovered gradually to the original level.