Protein synthesis in cell-free extracts of Streptococcus faecalis

Abstract

If a cell-free extract of Streptococcus faecalis is fractionated by way of a 10 to 70% sucrose gradient, at least three areas are found capable of protein synthesis having a density greater than can be accounted for by association of individual ribosomes. These areas represent distinct "polysome" peaks rather than random distribution of polymers of varied length. They appear to be membrane subunits. In addition there is a further particle with a density of about 150S, incapable of protein synthesis but which is capable of stimulating protein synthesis in some of the larger fractions found by gradient centrifugation.