A translational inhibitor activated in rabbit reticulocyte lysates under high pO2.

An inhibitor of protein synthesis was activated under high oxygen partial pressure (pO2) in hemin-supplemented and glutathione disulfide-free lysates from rabbit reticulocytes. This inhibitor shared some common features with other translational inhibitors from rabbit reticulocytes; that is, hemin-controlled repressor, glutathione disulfide-activated inhibitor and high pressure-activated inhibitor. It caused biphasic kinetics of inhibition which could be potentiated by ATP. Its activation was prevented by cAMP or glucose 6-phosphate. The high pO2-inhibitor could be partially purified from post-ribosomal supernatant containing ribosomal salt wash by precipitation between 0-50% (NH4)2SO4-saturation, Sephadex G-100, and DEAE-cellulose chromatography.