1^01. \%^ 



l^v — J^i 



Contents \^^^ ^^^ 



Chapter 1. Ribonucleic Acids and Protein Synthesis 1 



1. Brief historical survey 1 



2. Cytochemical observations 3 



3. Quantitative confirmations 8 



4. The role of the microsomes and ribonucleoprotein 

 particles in protein synthesis 19 



5. The role of RNA in plant viruses 25 



6. Evidence for the intervention of RNA in protein 

 synthesis in living cells 30 



7. Biochemical mechanisms of protein synthesis ... 44 

 a. ATP and the soluble enzymes fraction of Hoagland, 



44 — h. The role of RNA in protein synthesis, 46 — 

 References 50 



Chapter 2. The Role of Ribonucleic Acids in Growth and Morpho- 

 genesis 55 



1. Fertilization and early cleavage 55 



2. RNA and the induction of the nervous system . . 57 



3. Distribution of RNA in normal amphibian eggs . . 60 



4. Experimental modifications of RNA synthesis and 

 morphogenesis: Effects on RNA gradients in am- 

 phibian eggs 67 



5. Physical properties of the inducing agent: 



The possible role of microsomes in induction ... 80 



6. The role of the cell nucleus in morphogenesis ... 87 

 References 91 



Chapter 3. The Role of the Cell Nucleus in RNA and Protein Syn- 

 thesis 94 



1 . Hypotheses on the biochemical role of the nucleus . 94 



2. Available materials and methods 95 



3. Experimental results 98 



a. Intact cells, 98 — h. Amoeba proteus, 100 — c. Ace- 

 tabularia, 108 — d. RNA and protein synthesis in the 

 absence of the nucleus in reticulocytes and eggs, 

 125 — e. General properties of the isolated nuclei, 127 



4. Conclusions 129 



References 133 



Subject Index , . . , 137 



79874 



