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Plant Desiccation and Protein Synthesis

III. Stability of Cytoplasmic RNA during Dehydration, and Its Synthesis on Rehydration of the Moss Tortula ruralis¹

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

RNA species from the haploid gametophyte generation of the moss Tortula ruralis exhibit typical eukaryotic characteristics. The major ribosomal and soluble RNA species are stable during drying and rehydration. RNA synthesis occurs rapidly on reintroduction of the moss to water and incorporation into high molecular weight RNA fractions was detected after 20 to 30 minutes of rehydration and into low molecular weight fractions after 30-60 minutes. Newly synthesized ribosomal RNA was detected in ribosomes within 2 hours of rehydration, but not in polysomes. It is apparent that the ribosomal and transfer RNA conserved during desiccation is involved in the re-establishment of early protein synthesis during subsequent rehydration and that, initially, there is no requirement for newly synthesized material.

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.