Effect of alpha-isopropylmalate on the synthesis of RNA and protein in Neurospora

The leu-3/alpha-IPM (alpha-isopropylmalate) regulatory system, previously shown to control several genes of leucine, isoleucine, valine, and histidine biosynthesis, appears likely to be involved also in the regulation of overall RNA and protein synthesis in Neurospora. Upon addition of alpha-IPM the synthesis of all major species of stable RNA was found to be transiently inhibited by approximately 50%. A similar reduction was observed in overall protein synthesis. The inhibition was dependent in both cases on a functional leu-3 gene product, in conformance with previously established patterns of alpha-IPM dependent gene regulation. The overt resemblance of the phenomenon described here to the 'stringent response' of bacteria is noted but neither the mechanism of inhibition nor the precise role of alpha-IPM in the process has been established.