Description:
<jats:p>The synthesis of rabbit α and β globins under various conditions was studied using intact reticulocytes and reticulocyte cell‐free systems. Raising the salt concentration of media in which reticulocytes were incubated with radioactive amino acids reduced the total protein synthesis but did not affect the ratio of α to β globins produced. Using a reticulocyte lysate which had been incubated with micrococcal nuclease to remove the endogenous globin messenger RNA activity, it was found that unlike the intact cell or the untreated lysate very little α globin was synthesised on adding purified globin mRNA. These results are discussed in terms of their compatibility with some proposed models of coordination of α and β globin production.</jats:p>