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. 1968 May;95(5):1835–1843. doi: 10.1128/jb.95.5.1835-1843.1968

Requirements for Macromolecular Synthesis in the Establishment of β-Galactosidase Repression in Zygotes1

John H Caster a,2, Norman E Melechen a
PMCID: PMC252218  PMID: 4231283

Abstract

Inhibitors of protein synthesis do not consistently prevent formation of the lac operon repressor, according to several published reports, although direct evidence indicates that the repressor is a protein. Inhibition of ribonucleic acid (RNA) synthesis has never been shown to block lactose repression. These results have raised the possibility that repressor is synthesized in some unusual fashion. We have studied the effect of various inhibitors upon the establishment of repression in zygotes, utilizing conditions which minimize catabolite repression. Inhibition of protein synthesis by either chloramphenicol treatment or tryptophan deprivation blocked repressor formation in our experiments. Sodium borate and 6-azauracil are compounds reported to be specific inhibitors of RNA synthesis, and their behavior in control experiments is consistent with this specificity. Both delayed the establishment of repression. Thymine deprivation, either by starvation of a thymine auxotroph or by treatment with 5-fluorodeoxyuridine, did not delay the onset of repression. We conclude that repressor formation requires RNA synthesis and probably utilizes the usual protein-forming mechanisms.

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Selected References

These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.

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