This volume contains the papers presented at the international symposium on "Molecular Mechanisms in Protein Synthesis" held on September 26-27, 1983 at the Beyaz Ko§k in Emirgan, Bosphorus, Istanbul. The symposium aimed to create a medium for information exchange and discussions regarding the current developments in the area of protein syn­ thesis. To ensure an informal yet scientifically stimulating and productive atmosphere providing opportunity for relaxed and speculative discussions, the number of presentations was limited to twenty and that of attendants to about sixty. The emphasis in the symposium was laid on structure-function relations in the prokaryotic protein synthesizing systems and on the control mechanisms of eukaryotic protein synthesis, in particular, during chain initia­ tion. Other issues like evolutionary aspects of protein synthesis, translational components genes and proofreading were covered as well. The manuscripts represent the extended accounts of the oral presenta­ tions, and it has been aimed with the concluding remarks at the end of the volume to give a summarizing view of the presentations and the discussions.

Inhalt

Ribosome Structure.- RNA Structure, Free and on the Ribosome, as Revealed by Chemical and Enzymatic Studies.- Studies of E. coli Ribosomes Involving Fluorescence Techniques.- Ribosomal Components of the Peptidyl Transferase Center.- Elongation Factor Tu Interactions.- Interaction Between Elongation Factor Tu and Aminoacyl-tRNA.- Recognition of Aminoacyl-tRNA by Bacterial Elongation Factor Tu.- Transfer RNA Binding to Ribosomes.- tRNA Binding to and Topographical Arrangement on E. coli Ribosomes.- Ribosomal Translocation.- Studies on Structural Dynamics of the Translating Ribosome.- Proof-Reading in Translation.- The Effect of "In Vivo" Incorporation of ?-Aminobutyric Acid into E. coli Proteins.- Regulation of Eukaryotic Chain Initiation.- A Direct Correlation Between the Affinity of a Given mRNA for Eukaryotic Initiation Factor 2 and its Ability to Compete in Translation.- Regulation of Initiation Factor Activity.- Translational Control of Protein Synthesis in Reticulocyte Lysates by eIF-2? Kinases.- Calcium Ions and Phospholipid Activate a Translational Inhibitor in Reticulocyte Lysates.- High pO2 -Promoted Activation of a Translational Inhibitor in Rabbit Reticulocytes: Role of the Oxidation State of Sulfhydryl Groups.- Eukaryotic Chain Elongation.- Guanine Nucleotide Binding to Eukaryotic Elongation Factor 2: A Possible Control Mechanism of Eukaryotic Chain Elongation.- Evolution and Selective Action of Translational Inhibitors.- Some Interesting Features of a Halobacterial Gene and its mRNA.- Cell Evolution and the Selective Action of Translation Inhibitors.- Concluding Remarks.