MDMP Action: Degradative Effects on Polyribosomes from Wheat Roots and the Inhibition of Protein Initiation

Abstract

The rapid action of MDMP in promoting the conversion of polyribosomes into monoribosomes in wheat roots suggests that the compound may interfere with the attachment of ribosomes to messenger RNA. The action is stereospeeffic: the L-lsomer has no effect on polyribosomes and does not compete with D-MDMP with respect to polyribosome degradation or the inhibition of initiation-dependent amino acid incorporation in vitro.