Mitomycin C: Effect on Ribosomes of Escherichia coli

Abstract

Sucrose-gradient analyses of cell-free extracts of Escherichia coliB show that the sedimentation patterns are markedly affected by exposure of the cells to mitomycin C; 50S subunits are progressively degraded in the cells after 30 minutes exposure. The 30S subunits, although affected, are less sensitive to the antibiotic than the 50S subunits. Incorporation of uracil-2-C¹⁴ into the ribosomal particles by the treated cells is markedly reduced by exposure.