HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS		QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Full Text Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Citation Map Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via CrossRef Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Cox, R. A. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Cox, R. A. Agricola Articles by Cox, R. A.

Correlation of the rate of protein synthesis and the third power of the RNA : protein ratio in Escherichia coli and Mycobacterium tuberculosis

Division of Mycobacterial Research, National Institute for Medical Research, London NW7 1AA, UK

Correspondence
Robert A. Cox
rcox{at}nimr.mrc.ac.uk

In order to further understand the different physiological states of the tubercle bacillus, a frame of reference was sought by first correlating the macromolecular compositions of Escherichia coli with specific growth rates and also with the rates of protein synthesis. Data for DNA : protein : RNA were converted to the average amounts of DNA [m_DNA(av)], protein [m_p(av)] and RNA [m_RNA(av)] per cell. The specific growth rate µ was found to be directly proportional to m_RNA(av)/m_p(av). The specific protein synthesis rate per average cell [_p(av)] was shown to be directly proportional to the third power of the ratio m_RNA(av)/m_p(av) which reflects the ribosome concentration. The equations derived were shown apply to both E. coli (µ=1·73 h^-1) and Mycobacterium bovis BCG (µ=0·029 h^-1).

This article has been cited by other articles:

				G. Hirokawa, N. Iwakura, A. Kaji, and H. Kaji The role of GTP in transient splitting of 70S ribosomes by RRF (ribosome recycling factor) and EF-G (elongation factor G) Nucleic Acids Res., December 1, 2008; 36(21): 6676 - 6687. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				R. A. Cox A scheme for the analysis of microarray measurements based on a quantitative theoretical framework for bacterial cell growth: application to studies of Mycobacterium tuberculosis Microbiology, October 1, 2007; 153(10): 3337 - 3349. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				D. J. V. Beste, J. Peters, T. Hooper, C. Avignone-Rossa, M. E. Bushell, and J. McFadden Compiling a Molecular Inventory for Mycobacterium bovis BCG at Two Growth Rates: Evidence for Growth Rate-Mediated Regulation of Ribosome Biosynthesis and Lipid Metabolism J. Bacteriol., March 1, 2005; 187(5): 1677 - 1684. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				M. d. C. Menendez, M. J. Rebollo, M. d. C. Nunez, R. A. Cox, and M. J. Garcia Analysis of the Precursor rRNA Fractions of Rapidly Growing Mycobacteria: Quantification by Methods That Include the Use of a Promoter (rrnA P1) as a Novel Standard J. Bacteriol., January 15, 2005; 187(2): 534 - 543. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				R. A. Cox Quantitative relationships for specific growth rates and macromolecular compositions of Mycobacterium tuberculosis, Streptomyces coelicolor A3(2) and Escherichia coli B/r: an integrative theoretical approach Microbiology, May 1, 2004; 150(5): 1413 - 1426. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]