Protein synthesizing systems from spores and vegetative cells of Bacillus cereus

A system of polyphenylalanine synthesis was optimized for a comparison of the polymerizing activities of ribosomes from spores and vegetative cells of Bacillus cereus T. Ribosomes of both types react similarly, showing a magnesium optimum of about 6mM and spermidine optima of about 5mM and 4mM for vegative and spore ribosomes, respectively. These lead to optimum mono- to multivalent cation rations of 9 and 10 respectively at 100 mM ammonium ion. A comparison of the response of these ribosomes to suboptimal concentrations of magnesium and spermidine show that they differ qualitatively from each other, suggesting that they possess different structure, macromolecular or ionic components.