INTERACTION OF 80S RAT LIVER RIBOSOME WITH LIPID MONOLAYERS STUDIED BY ELECTRON MICROSCOPY

Shaoxiong Wang and Sen-fang Sui
Biophysics Group, State Key Lab Biomembrane, Dept. Biol. Sci. & Biotech., Tsinghua Univ., Beijing 100084, P.R. CHINA

80S ribosome from rat liver has been examined on the surface of lipid monolayers by electron microscopy (EM) using lipid layer method. The results showed that a large number of ribosomes were adsorbed on membrane surfaces containing positively charged lipid, while few ribosomes can be observed on surfaces of neutral or negatively charged lipid monolayers. The interaction of ribosome with positively charged monolayers can be affected by the composition and ratio of the membrane lipids, and by the ionic strength and pH value of the subphase buffer. The results suggested that ribosomes were adsorbed on monolayer surfaces through electrostatic force. From the EM micrographs it was observed that the ribosomes were located on membrane surfaces in various orientations, which was analyzed by computing process.