HALF-LIFE OF CYTOPLASMIC RIBOSOMAL-RNA AND TRANSFER-RNA, OF PLASTID RIBOSOMAL-RNA AND OF URIDINE NUCLEOTIDES IN HETEROTROPHICALLY AND PHOTOORGANOTROPHICALLY GROWN CELLS OF EUGLENA-GRACILIS AND ITS APOPLASTIC MUTANT W3BUL

1. For Euglena gracilis half-life data were calculated according to Greenberg's equation (Nature 240, 102-104, 1972) using steady-state specific radioactivities determined for cyt-rRNA, cyt-tRNA and pl-rRNA. 2, For all RNAs equal half-lives were found of 45 and 38 hr, respectively, in heterotrophically and photoorganotrophically grown cells. 3. Using the decay analysis equal half-lives were found for cyt-rRNA, cyt-tRNA and pl-rRNA being 79, 43 and 60 hr, respectively, in heterotrophically and photoorganotrophically grown wild-type cells and the mutant W3BUL. 4. As suggested by the specific radioactivity of intracellular [H-3]UMP compared to that of [H-3]uracil fed, the remarkable differences between RNA half-lives determined for heterotrophically and photoorganotrophically grown wild-type cells, seem to be caused by a different extent of the de novo synthesis of UMP. 5. Reutilization of RNA breakdown products suggested by increased half-lives of RNAs in the decay analysis compared to those determined by Greenberg's equation seems to occur mainly in heterotrophically grown cells.