Regulation of hemoglobin synthesis: equal rates of translation and termination of α-and β-globin chains

HF Lodish, M Jacobsen - Journal of Biological Chemistry, 1972 - ASBMB
We find no difference in the rate of translation of α-and β-globin mRNA in cell-free extracts of
rabbit reticulocytes (about 200 s per chain at 25°) nor in the rate of release of completed
globin chains from polyribosomes (about 15 s per chain). In these reactions, as well as
incubation of intact reticulocytes, each β-globin mRNA contains 30 to 40% more ribosomes
than each α-mRNA. These results imply that each β-mRNA initiates synthesis of about 40%
more β-globin than each α-mRNA initiates synthesis of α chains. Hence, reticulocytes must …