Breakdown of Rat Liver Polyribosomes by Benzene 1

Abstract

Summary

Administration of benzene to rats intraperitoneally causes breakdown of liver polyribosomes and appearance of a high concentration of particles sedimenting in the monomer-dimer region of the gradient. Ribosomes from benzene-treated animals were functional in in vitro protein synthesis but their endogenous capacity to incorporate L-³H-phenylalanine into protein was significantly less than that of the controls (50%). There was, however, no difference in the pH 5.1 enzyme activities of benzene-treated and untreated animals.