Effects of cations and cosolvents on eukaryotic ribosomal subunit conformation

The effects of various cations and cosolvents on the conformation of wheat germ ribosomes and ribosomal subunits have been investigated by using the techniques of circular dichroism and differential hydrogen exchange. A class of hydrogens on both the 40S and 60S subunits exchange out more rapidly as the Mg2+ concentration is raised, indicating that Mg2+ causes a change in subunit conformation. Ca2+ and the polyamines produce a similar increase in the rate of hydrogen exchange. These results suggest that increases in cation concentrations permit a tightening of ribosome structure and a greater degree of internalization of the rRNA. The cosolvent glycerol causes an alteration in the CD spectrum of 80S ribosomes in both the nucleic acid and protein portions of the spectrum. Glycerol also causes a decrease in the rate of exchange of a number of hydrogens on both the 40S and 60S subunits. These results are interpreted to mean that glycerol favors a more native, less denatured structure in the ribosome.