Abstract

The assembly of proteins and RNA into mature ribosomal subunits has been studied in Drosophila cell cultures by pulse-chase experiments. Pulse labeled rRNA has a transit time of 3 h, while the transfer of ribosomal protein occurs completely within 30 min. Inhibition of protein synthesis by cycloheximide results in an almost immediate cessation of ribosome assembly, a result which indicates that no large pool of free ribosomal proteins exists in the cell. Substituting pre-ribosomal RNA with the analogue 5-fluorouridine (5-FU) results in a cessation of ribosome muturation. Under these conditions at least three large subunit proteins continue to accumulate on pre-existing cytoplasmic subunits, indicating an exchange. A portion of ribosomal subunit proteins synthesized in the presence of 5-FU can be recovered in cytoplasmic subunits once the effect of 5-FU has been reversed. This is most easily interpreted in terms of their stabilization on substituted pre-rRNA within the nucleolus, and subsequent utilization on unsubstituted RNA.