Aurintricarboxylic Acid: Inhibitor of Initiation of Protein Synthesis

Abstract

Aurintricarboxylic acid prevents the attachment of bacteriophage messenger RNA to ribosomes. As a consequence, initiation of protein synthesis in cell-free extracts prepared from Escherichia coli or rabbit reticulocytes is inhibited at concentrations of dye that do not prevent chain extension. Its properties can be distinguished from other agents that inhibit protein synthesis, including sodium fluoride, cycloheximide, and pactamycin.