Rapid alterations in initiation rate and recruitment of inactive RNA are temporally correlated with S6 phosphorylation.

HeLa cells propagated in spinner culture for 3-4 days without replenishing medium or serum progressively decrease the amount of mRNA and rRNA in polysomes, as well as the elongation rate. Treatment of these cells with low doses of cycloheximide shifts at least two thirds of the subpolysomal ribosomal particles into polysomes, indicating that the rate of ribosome attachment limits translation in these cells. Transfer of serum factor-depleted cells to fresh medium containing 10% calf serum likewise results in an extensive translocation of mRNA and rRNA into polysomes. Polysome absorbance profiles and sizes suggest that serum stimulation causes these changes by enhancing initiation rate. Newly recruited mRNAs derive from both subpolysomal translocation and recent nuclear RNA export, and contain a greater proportion of poly(A)-deficient mRNA molecules than the pre-stimulated polysomal mRNA population. Kinetic measurements show that these events occur principally within 20 min after serum addition, suggesting rapid modifications of preexisting components are involved. The phosphorylation kinetics of ribosomal protein S6, which closely parallel the alterations in translational activity, suggest that this modification may influence ribosome function.