SUMMARY: Resting organisms of Shigella flexneri serotype 3 are able to synthesize soluble and ribosomal ribonucleic acid (RNA) in the presence of chloram-phenicol. The antibiotic stimulates the synthesis of soluble RNA but has no apparent effect on ribosomal RNA production. In contrast, chlortetracycline, which also suppresses formation of protein, stimulates soluble RNA synthesis and inhibits ribosomal RNA synthesis. The soluble RNA of the chloramphenicol-treated organisms possesses amino acid accepting activity comparable to that of the soluble RNA of untreated organisms. The findings indicate that chloramphenicol does not promote the synthesis of biologically inactive soluble RNA. The stimulation of soluble RNA synthesis appears to be the result, rather than the cause, of the inhibition of protein production by the antibiotic.
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