Inhibition of hemoglobin synthesis by cyanate in vitro.

Cyanate inhibits sickling and prolongs red cell cell was not impaired, and free intracellular survival in sickle cell anemia. However, cyanate amino acid was not carbamylated. Aminoacylamarkedly inhibits hemoglobin synthesis in vitro. tion of transfer RNA was not inhibited; the Incorporation of radioactive amino acid into acylated amino acid was not carbamylated. hemoglobin by human sickle reticulocytes or Examination of polysome patterns by sucrose bone marrow and by rabbit reticulocytes (whole density gradient centrifugation revealed degradecell or cell-free lysate) was inhibited by as little tion of polysomes to monosomes, suggesting as 2 mM cyanate and abolished by 50 mM. Both inhibition of initiation of protein synthesis by alphaand beta-S chains were equally affected. cyanate. In a celI:free lysate, cyanate prevented The inhibition was only partially reversible by hemin stimulation of initiation. We conclude washing the cells after exposure to cyanate. that cyanate profoundly inhibits initiation of Transport of radioactive amino acid into the hemoglobin synthesis in vitro.