AGE-DEPENDENT TOXIC PROPERTIES OF ACTINOMYCIN D AND X-RAYS IN CULTURED CHINESE HAMSTER CELLS

A comparative study was made of the toxic properties of actinomycin D and X-rays using synchronized populations of Chinese hamster cells cultured in vitro. X-irradiated cells are most resistant in the latter half of the DNA synthetic period (late S). While cells treated with actinomycin D appear to go through a survival maximum at the same age, they are most resistant after the completion of DNA synthesis; i.e. in G₂ (or G₂-mitosis). In spite of these differences, we found that actinomycin D damage in late S cells interacts with X-ray damage. Thus, a common locus for the site of actions of both agents is suggested which may be in or around the genome of a cell in view of the well-known DNA binding properties of actinomycin D.     

CELL KILLING BY ACTINOMYCIN D IN RELATION TO THE GROWTH CYCLE OF CHINESE HAMSTER CELLS

Using Chinese hamster cells in culture, we have measured the effectiveness of actinomycin D to suppress division as a function of the position, or age, of a cell in its growth cycle. Cells were first exposed to millimolar concentrations of hydroxyurea in order to produce a synchronized population just before the onset of DNA synthesis. Thereafter, the survival response after 30 min exposures to actinomycin D was measured. Cells become resistant as they enter the S phase and then sensitive again in the latter part of S. When they reach G₂ (or G₂-mitosis) they are maximally resistant; at 1.0 µg/ml, for example, the survival in G₂ is 30-fold greater than it is in G₁. These results, plus measurements reported earlier on the interaction of damage in S cells due to actinomycin D and X-irradiation, suggest that the age-response pattern of the toxic effects of this drug probably reflects both the functional capacity of DNA-actinomycin complexes and the ability of this antibiotic to penetrate chromatin and bind to DNA.     

Actinomycin V as a Potent Differentiation Inducer of F5-5 Friend Leukemia Cells

The cell differentiation system of Friend leukemia cells was applied to screening for new types of antitumor antibiotics. F5-5, Friend leukemia cells, were the most suitable for the assay system due to the stability of their response on repeated culture passages. Antibiotics like mitomycin C, adriamycin and actinomycin D, but not cycloheximide, did not induce detectable benzidine-positive cells among the F5-5 cells in the concentration ranges tested. Among the culture fluids of one thousand and fifty-one streptomycete strains subjected to the assay system, actinomycin V, FL-518 and FL-657 were found to be the most active as inducers. Actinomycin V possessing l-4-ketoproline as a substitute for l-proline of actinomycin D at a concentration of 1.0ng/ml caused 39.7% of the F5-5 cells to become benzidine-positive. Furthermore, actinomycin V inhibited the colony formation of F5-5 cells in the soft agar medium at a concentration of 0.004 ng/ml.     

Microexudation phenomenon in the testing of antibiotics]

Changes in formation of the surface protein-polysaccharide layer (microexudate) on the cell surface under the action of inhibitor antibiotics, such as puromycin, actinomycin D and mitomycin C, as well as protein substances with adhesive action, such as horse serum and triprotamine in low doses were characterized quantitatively on a model of HeLa cells ellipsometrically. Under the action of puromycin, actinomycin D and mitomycin C formation of the microexudate ceased, which was in full accordance with the data on ceasation of the intracellular synthesis of protein, RNA and DNA under the action of the above antibiotics respectively. Inhibition of the microexudate formation was reversible. Still, the time of the inhibitory effect of puromycin and actinomycin D was longer than that of mitomycin C. Under the action of horse serum and triprotamine production of the microexudate by the cells was increased and accelerated. Accounting with the relative simplicity of the ellipsometric method and possibility of rapid estimation of the results, the data substantiate the expediency of using the phenomenon of microexudation as a cytopharmacological test.     

Wound-induced phenylalanine ammonia-lyase in potato tuber tissue. Development of enzyme activity and effects of antibiotics.

Phenylalanine ammonia-lyase [EC 4.3.1.5.] activity increased rapidly after a 3-hr lag period in potato tuber (Solanum tuberosum L. cv. May Queen) disks incubated in a suitable medium in the dark at 25 degrees. The activity reached a maxinum after incubation for about 40 hr. The effects of actinomycin D, 6-methylpurine, cycloheximide, chloramphenicol, and mitomycin C on the induction of phenylalanine ammonia-lyase were investigated during incubation of the disks. Actinomycin D, 6-methylpurine, and cycloheximide all inhibited the formation of phenylalanine ammonia-lyase, though cycloheximide was the most effective at low concentrations. Application of actinomycin D for the initial lag period (3 hr) caused strong inhibition; however, if it was supplied later it did not inhibit but actually increased phenylalanine ammonialyase formation. In contrast, cycloheximide was effective over most of the incubation period. Chloramphenicol and mitomycin C did not inhibit phenylalanine phenylalanine ammonialyase induction, but markedly stimulated it. Light was not an essential factor for phenylalanine ammonia-lyase induction in the wounded tissue.     

Induced Robertsonian fusions and tandem translocations in mammalian cell cultures.

Cultures of a cattle cell line and a Peromyscus eremicus cell line recovering from a pulse-treatment with mitomycin C, actinomycin D, 33258 Hoechst, and nitrosoguanidine exhibited translocations between chromosomes at the centromeric regions (Robertsonian fusions) as well as between centromere and telomere and between telomeres (tandem translocations). The frequency of Robertsonian fusions was found to be dose-dependent and duration-dependent with the mitomycin treatment. Biarmed chromosomes resulting from fusions may be monocentric or dicentric. Analyses of clones isolated from treated cells suggested that fused chromosomes may perpetuate in the cell populations.     

Nucleic Acids Synthesis of Nuclear Polyhedrosis Virus in Cultured Embryonic Cells of Silkworm

Embryos of the silkworm, Bombyx mori L., were dispersed by trypsin and the dissociated cells were cultured for infection with nuclear polyhedrosis virus (NPV) of the silkworm. The monolayer and suspension cultures were infected with NPV. RNA and DNA syntheses in the normal and NPV-infected cells were measured by incorporation of ³²P into RNA and DNA fractions. RNA and DNA syntheses in the cells after infection significantly increased over those in control cells (mock infection). The effects of actinomycin D, chloramphenicol and mitomycin C on RNA and DNA syntheses in infected cells were examined. The syntheses were inhibited by the antibiotics. It was suggested that the cellular DNA synthesis was inhibited by the viral infection, because the mitomycin C-resistant DNA synthesis was found in the normal cells but not in the infected cells treated with mitomycin C. The rate of DNA synthesis induced by NPV was immediately dropped to that of control cells by addition of chloramphenicol, while the RNA synthesis induced by NPV was not affected for 6 hr after the addition of chloramphenicol. If the antibiotic did not affect the size of precursor pools, this event suggested that the RNA polymerase concerned with viral RNA synthesis was more stable than the DNA polymerase participating in the viral DNA synthesis. The viral DNA as templates for RNA and DNA syntheses was decomposed by mitomycin C.     

Control of mitogen-induced transformation: characterization of a splenic suppressor cell and its mode of action.

The present study demonstrates that mouse spleen cells contain a population of glass wool adherent T lymphocytes which exhibit the capacity to suppress non-glass adherent lymphocyte responses to mitogens. These suppressor cells are stimulated by both low and high doses of PHA¹ and high doses of con A. The suppressor cell effect is observed when UNA, but not RNA or protein synthesis, is studied. This glass-adherent suppressor cell population is characterized as being the primary DNA synthesizing cells during the early (0–8 hr) stages of culture. Suppression still occurs when the suppressor cells are treated with mitomycin C, actinomycin D or cycloheximide. This implies that new macromolecular synthesis may not be required for suppression to occur. Suppression is blocked by inhibiting synthesis of prostaglandin and is mimicked by Bu₂cAMP. This suggests that mitogen activated suppressor cells regulate T cell responses via production of prostaglandin which modulates the concentration of intracellular cyclic nucleotide levels.     

RNA synthesized during late sporulation is required for germ tube formation inBlastocladiella emersonii

Inhibition of RNA synthesis with actinomycin D as late as 210 min (T₂₁₀) afterBlastocladiella emersonii is induced to sporulate results in complete blockage of germ tube formation in the next generation. In agreement with other reports, actinomycin D added during germination did not block germ tube formation. Protein synthesis during germination is reduced by approximately one-half when actinomycin D is added atT₂₁₀ but remains at virtually control levels when actinomycin D is added during germination. Two-dimensional sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel analyses of the abundant proteins synthesizedin vivo during the first hour of germination revealed no qualitative differences in the proteins which accumulate when control cells are compared to cells treated with actinomycin D atT₂₁₀. Comparison of proteins synthesized from 20 to 40 min germination vs 40 to 60 min germination demonstrated that actinomycin D alters the temporal pattern of accumulation of some abundant proteins. The RNA synthesized afterT₂₁₀ is associated with polysomes, suggesting that an mRNA fraction made in late sporulation is required for a germ tube. The available data do not exclude the possibility that a regulatory RNA synthesized during late sporulation is required for germ tube formation.     

Silver staining of human acrocentrics in metaphase does not reflect an induced inhibition in NOR activity

Cytological staining with silver nitrate was used in order to study the activity of the nucleolar organizer regions (NORs) in metaphase figures from human lymphocytes exposed to mercury chloride and actinomycin D. The cells were exposed to both compounds either during G1-early S phase, allowing recovery after the exposure, or from G1 until harvest; no recovery was thus allowed in the latter case. HgCl₂ as well as actinomycin D did not influence the silver staining of the acrocentric chromosomes on metaphases. As actinomycin D is known to be an inhibitor of rRNA, as for example confirmed by inhibition of silver staining on interphase cells, our results on metaphase chromosomes indicate that AgNO₃ precipitation, although being a good indicator for nucleolar activation, is not adequate in case of inactivation.     

Induction of morphological alterations by antineoplastic agents in yeast

Saccharomyces cerevisiae was used as an alternative experimental model in order to investigate the effects of antineoplastic agents on eukaryotic cells. After being exposed to the most common clinically used antineoplastic agents, yeast cells were examined under the light microscope. Folate and pyrimidine antagonists, platinum derivatives, mitomycin C, actinomycin D and bleomycin induced alterations in yeast cellular morphology, which were not observed following treatment with drugs belonging to any category other than the antineoplastics, leading to the suggestion that these alterations could potentially be used as an experimental tool in pre-screening for new chemotherapeutic leads.     

ROLE OF NUCLEIC ACID AND PROTEIN METABOLISM IN THE INITIATION OF GROWTH AT GERMINATION

When dry decotyledonized embryos of Raphanus are supplied withwater, a brief period of water absorption (phase A) is followedby a period of no fresh weight increase (phase B) which lastsfor 8 hr at 30°. In this period, embryos become ready toadvance into the period of fresh weight increase (phase C). When embryos were exposed to various concentrations of thiouracilor actinomycin D solution from 0 hr of water supply, increasesin fresh weight and in RNA content measured at 13 hr were inhibitedin parallel with each other. Chloramphenicol and puromycin inhibitedthe fresh weight increase without affecting the RNA increase.When embryos were exposed to thiouracil or puromycin for 2,4 and 6 hr, beginning at 0 hr of water supply, the start ofphase C delayed 2, 4 and 6 hr, respectively. When these drugswere given after phase B had progressed at least for 2 hr, thedelay of the start of phase C was shorter than the period ofthe drug treatment. If given at the end of phase B, thiouraciland actinomycin D inhibited the incorporation of ¹⁴C-uracilbut not the fresh weight increase, while chloramphenicol andpuromycin inhibited the latter without inhibiting the former. During phase B, protein content per dry weight of embryo didnot increase, but the rate of ¹⁴C-leucine incorporation increasedremarkably to reach the level in phase C. Incorporation of labeledleucine was inhibited if embryos were subjected to thiouracilor actinomycin D action during phase B, but not if the drugswere given when phase B had been completed. Puromycin and chloramphenicolinhibited the incorporation whenever they were given. The increase in respiratory activity during phase B was inhibitedrelatively little by the above mentioned four drugs. In conclusion syntheses of RNA and protein seem to be essentialfor the progress of phases B and C, protein synthesis havinga more direct effect. (Received September 17, 1965; )     

Delayed inhibition of DNA synthesis in mouse jejunum by low doses of actinomycin D

Actinomycin D (0.008 μg/gm of body weight) injected intraperitoneally every two hours, produced a prompt 50% inhibition of RNA synthesis in the jejunum of mice, and a delayed inhibition of DNA synthesis, that reached its maximum inhibition (68% of control values) 4.5 hours after the first injection of actinomycin D. Autoradiographic studies indicated that this low level of actinomycin D inhibited a step in the G₁ phase of the cell cycle, preventing the initiation, but not affecting the continuation, of DNA biosynthesis. The activity of DNA polymerase was not affected under these conditions. The results are substantially similar to those previously obtained with Ehrlich ascites cells growing in the peritoneal cavity of mice and can be interpreted as indicating that in the G₁ phase of dividing cells there is an actinomycin sensitive step whose inhibition prevents the entrance of cells into the DNA-synthesis phase.     

DNA SYNTHESIS AND MITOSIS IN MERISTEMS: REQUIREMENTS FOR RNA AND PROTEIN SYNTHESIS

Following provision of sucrose to starved, stationary phase pea root meristems, G₁ and G₂ cells enter DNA synthesis and mitosis, respectively. Puromycin (450 μg/ml) and cycloheximide (5 μg/ml) completely prevent this initiation of progression through the cell cycle. Actinomycin D (10 μg/ml) has no effect on the initial entry of G₁ and G₂ cells into S and mitosis, although later entry is prevented. The resistance of the cells to actinomycin D is lost slowly with time in medium without sucrose, suggesting that an RNA required for the resumption of proliferative activity is being gradually lost. The effects of the inhibitors on transitional and proliferative phase meristem cells indicate that such dividing cells do indeed have sufficient of the requisite RNA for 8-12 hr progression through the cycle, but that protein synthesis is required continuously. It is suggested that this RNA is the one lost slowly during starvation, allowing starved cells to reinitiate progression through the cycle in the presence of actinomycin D.     

Modification of the sensitivity of CHO cells to mitomycin C by dibutyryl cyclic AMP

The survival of CHO cells exposed to mitomycin C was decreased three times that of the cells treated with 1 mM dibutyryl cyclic AMP before mitomycin C treatment, as compared to the absence of treatment with this cyclic nucleotide. The sensitization effect began at 3-4 hours after the start of pre-treatment, reached a maximum at around 10 hours and continued to be effective. Post-treatment with the cyclic nucleotide for more than 12 hours increased the survival of CHO cells exposed to mitomycin C.     

Clastogenic effects of cis-diamminedichloroplatinum II. Induction of chromosomal aberrations in primary spermatocytes and spermatogonial stem cells of mice

The clastogenic effect of the anticancer drug cis-diamminedichloroplatinum(II) (cisplatin) on meiotic prophase in primary spermatocytes and on spermatologonial stem cells of male (101/E1 × C3H/E1)F₁ mice was studied. The intraperitoneal doses of cisplatin tested were 5.0, 7.5 and 10.0 mg/kg. Chromosomal aberrations were examined at diakinesis-metaphase 1 of meiosis 1–13 days after treatment, representing cells treated at diplotene, pachytene, zygotene, leptotene an preleptotene. Reciprocal translocations were evaluated 63–70 days after treatment, representing treated stem-cell spermatogonia.Cisplatin had a toxic effect in zygotene to preleptotene of meiosis, as indicated by the significant reduction in testicular weight. At diplotene, pachytene and zygotene no enhancement of aberrations was found. An increase in aberrant cells was observed during leptotene with preleptotene being the most sensitive stage. The dose-response relationship for aberrant cells was linear on day 13 after treatment. It is concluded that, like mitomycin C (Alder, 1976), cisplatin primarily caused aberrations during the premeiotic phase of DNA synthesis. No significant increase of translocation multivalents was found after treatment of stem-cell spermatogonia.     

Control of normal differentiation of myeloid leukemic cells. VI. Inhibition of cell multiplication and the formation of macrophages.

D+ but not D- myeloid leukemic cells can be induced by the appropriate conditioned medium or by serum from endotoxin treated mice, to undergo cell migration in agar, cell attachment to the surface of a Petri dish and differentiation to mature macrophages and granulocytes. Inhibition of cell multiplication by cytosine arabinoside, hydroxyurea, mitomycin C, thymidine, 5-bromodeoxyuridine, 5-iododeoxyuridine, 5-fluorodeoxyuridine or actinomycin D, but not by vinblastine or cycloheximide, induced cell migration, cell attachment to the Petri dish and the formation of macrophages in D+ cells. There was no induction of cell migration or formation of macrophages and a much lower induction of cell attachment in D- cells. The induction of these changes in D+ cells required protein synthesis and the inhibitors showed the same toxicity for D+ and D- cells. The results indicate, that the inhibitors induced specific surface membrane changes in D+ but not in D- cells.     

The histology of inhibition of limb regeneration in the newt, Triturus, by actinomycin D

Adult newts, Triturus viridescens, were treated with from 1.0–10.0 μg/g body weight of actinomycin D one day before amputation of both forelimbs. Mean survival times ranged from over 50 days in newts treated with 1.0 μg/g to 13.2 days in animals given 10.0 μg/g body weight of actinomycin. Low doses little altered the course of regeneration, but animals treated with over 2.0 μg/g never formed blastemas. In another series, animals were given doses of 2.5 μg/g body weight of actinomycin D at intervals from 14 days before to 30 days after amputation. It was found that certain signs of toxicity (loss of equilibrium) are related to the time of administration of the drug whereas others (hemorrhage into the limb stumps) are restricted to a definite phase of the regenerative process. Early administration of actinomycin completely inhibits regeneration whereas later treatment results in a considerably lessened effect. The postamputational stages which are basically destructive in nature are not noticeably affected by actinomycin D, but the phases of dedifferentiation, blastema formation and redifferentiation are strongly inhibited.     

Effects of rifampicin, streptolydigin and actinomycin D on the replication of Col E1 plasmid DNA in Escherichia coli

We recently reported (Clewell et al., 1972) on an inhibitory effect of rifampicin on Col E1 plasmid replication. The present study represents a further characterization of this phenomenon as well as a study of the effects of two other known inhibitors of RNA synthesis, Streptolydigin and actinomycin D.During treatment of cells with chloramphenicol the colicinogenic factor E₁ (Col E1) continues to replicate for more than ton hours. During this time 4 to 5 S RNA is also synthesized. When varying concentrations of rifampicin were included during chloramphenicol treatment, inhibition of plasmid DNA synthesis correlated very closely with inhibition of cellular RNA synthesis. Similar experiments testing the effects of Streptolydigin and actinomycin D (during chloramphenicol treatment) showed that cellular RNA synthesis was at least 100 times more sensitive to these drugs than was plasmid DNA synthesis.When actively growing cells (i.e. cells not treated with chloramphenicol) were treated with a high concentration of rifampicin (250 μg/ml), chromosomal DNA synthesis continued to an extent representing about a 50% increase in DNA, while plasmid DNA synthesis appeared to stop abruptly.     

Relationship between heat-shock protein synthesis and thermotolerance in rainbow trout fibroblasts

Summary The role of heat-shock protein synthesis in the development of thermotolerance by rainbow trout fibroblasts was examined. During the first 6 h after being shifted from 22°C to 28°C, cells of the rainbow trout fibroblast line, RTG-2, rapidly synthesized the major heat-shock proteins (hsps), hsps 87, 70 and 27, and developed tolerance to 32°C. After 24 h at 28°C hsp synthesis was drastically reduced but thermotolerance was maintained. If these thermotolerant cells were shifted to 32°C, hsp synthesis continued at a very low level, but if they were subsequently returned to 22°C, synthesis of hsps 70 and 27 was induced again. The addition of actinomycin D during the first 6 h at 28°C prevented hsp synthesis and the development of thermotolerance. The presence of actinomycin D during the incubation of thermotolerant cultures at 32°C blocked the reinitiation of hsps synthesis at 22°C but had no effect on survival. Therefore, the hsps that accumulated at 28°C were sufficient to allow cells to survive a subsequent thermal stress at 32°C.