Terbium binding to rat liver ribosomes and ribosomal RNA (rRNA) was examined by equilibrium dialysis and fluorescence spectroscopy. Upon binding to ribosomes and rRNA, the enhancement of terbium fluorescence emission at both 488 and 541 nm was dependent only upon the amount of bound terbium and independent of ionic strength. Binding profiles for ribosomes and rRNA suggested that terbium was bound to ribosomes primarily through rRNA interactions. Data suggested that terbium mimicked characteristics previously described for interactions between ribosomes and magnesium. It is proposed, therefore, that fluorescence of terbium bound to ribosomes may prove useful in studies on the nature and extent of interactions between ribosomes and magnesium.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.