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Articles

Plant Desiccation and Protein Synthesis

An in Vitro System from Dry and Hydrated Mosses Using Endogenous and Synthetic Messenger Ribonucleic Acid ¹

Edward A. Gwód² and J. Derek Bewley³

^a Department of Biology, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, T2N 1N4, Canada

The conditions and requirements for an in vitro protein synthesizing system from the moss Tortula ruralis are outlined. Using this system the effects of desiccation, achieved quickly or slowly, were studied. Slowly dried moss retained fewer polyribosomes on desiccation but more active ribosomes than rapidly dried moss. Even in the completely desiccated moss the polyribosomes and/or free ribosomes present have retained their synthetic capacities. On rehydration, the slowly dried moss resumed protein synthesis more quickly than moss previously desiccated rapidly. Moss ribosomes are cycloheximide sensitive and chloramphenicol insensitive and thus the major protein synthesis occurs within the cytoplasm on rehydration. Extracted polyribosomes per se can withstand desiccation to a significant extent, suggesting that protection by the cytoplasm might not be necessary. The aquatic moss Hygrohypnum luridum can retain polyribosomal and ribosomal activity during desiccation, but this decreases greatly on rehydration.

³ To whom reprint requests should be addressed.

¹ This work was supported by National Research Council of Canada Grants A-6352 and E-2550 to J. D. B. and an equipment grant from the University of Calgary.

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				R. Dhindsa and J. Bewley Plant desiccation: polysome loss not due to ribonuclease Science, January 16, 1976; 191(4223): 181 - 182. [Abstract] [PDF]