RATE AND TIME OF DNA SYNTHESIS OF INDIVIDUAL CHINESE HAMSTER CELLS

The duration of DNA synthesis of a diploid cell line of Chinese hamster fibroblasts was determined in a comparative study by the FLM technique, and also by a new technique for measuring the rate of DNA synthesis of individual cells. These methods produced comparable results when applied during exponential growth of the cells. The rate of DNA synthesis was measured by means of quantitative autoradiography following a short-term incubation of the cells with 5 × 10^-6 M FUdR and 10^-5 M ¹⁴C-TdR. The choice of the medium for this purpose did not seem to be critical. The autoradiographic silver grains over cells and ¹⁴C-standard sources are counted by microphotometry using incident light bright-field. The direct measurements of DNA synthesis rate are ‘compartment’ statistics which have been converted into ‘flux’ parameters for comparison with the FLM method and applicability in cell-kinetic calculations. Frequency distributions of the rate of DNA synthesis of individual cells thus obtained may resemble normal distributions quite closely. They result from several factors: differences in the rate of synthesis in different parts of the S-phase, the density distribution of cells within the S-phase, the variation in the time of DNA synthesis among individual cells, and the experimental error. In the case of a pronounced partial synchronization as probably has been present in one experiment performed in the lag phase, an incorrect time of DNA synthesis may result from the rate values. Due to the variation in DNA synthesis rate in different parts of the S-phase it is not possible to determine the duration of DNA synthesis of an individual cell. However, the mean values of DNA synthesis time are reliable. The new method will be preferentially applied for determining the duration of DNA synthesis of human cells in as far as difficulties are encountered with the classical methods. In addition, it may be used to advantage for studying cells which make up low percentages in mixed populations. It finally permits a safer morphological classification of the cells under study than is possible with the classical methods.     

Time course and cellular site of mitotic activity in the exocrine pancreas of the rat during sustained hormone stimulation

Summary Previous studies from our laboratory indicate that the adaptive response of the exocrine pancreas of the rat to prolonged stimulation with optimal doses of caerulein (0.25 g × kg^-1 × h^-1) follows a characteristic time course in which each step in the secretory pathway is activated. The immediate response is the depletion of zymogen-granule stores followed by coordinate and anticoordinate changes in individual rates of (pro-)enzyme synthesis after a lag period of 2 h. The sum of such changes leads to an increase in total rate of protein synthesis by 3 h which is combined with acceleration of intracellular transport packaging and granule discharge. In the present study the time course of DNA synthesis and the labeling index of five populations of pancreatic cells have been analyzed after caerulein stimulation for periods ranging from 6 to 72 h, using in vivo labeling with 1 Ci/g ³H-thymidine 1 h prior to sacrifice of the animals. DNA synthesis did not change during the initial 18 h in spite of persistent stimulation indicated by a 80% reduction of enzyme content. Following this lag period a sharp rise in DNA synthesis 20- to 25-fold above control levels was observed, which decreased by 48 h to reach control levels by 72 h. Increase in DNA synthesis was most pronounced in animals with lowest enzyme content in the pancreas. From the five cell populations studied by autoradiography interlobular duct cells and islet cells had no significant increase in labeling index at any time of stimulation. Acinar cells, intralobular duct cells and interstitial cells showed a marked increase in labeling index after a latent period of 18 h with peak values at 36 h 30 to 50 times higher in intralobular duct and acinar cells, respectively, and 4 times higher in interstitial cells. The increased labeling indices in all three cell populations reverted to lower values at 48 h and reached control values by 72 h. The data indicate a phasic and limited growth response of the rat exocrine pancreas to persistent stimulation with acinar cells as the major contributing cell population.Supported by a grant from Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (SFB215-C 3)     

Rate and time of DNA synthesis of individual Chinese hamster cells.

The duration of DNA synthesis of a diploid cell line of Chinese hamster fibroblasts was determined in a comparative study by the FLM technique, and also by a new technique for measuring the rate of DNA synthesis of individual cells. These methods produced comparable results when applied during exponential growth of the cells. The rate of DNA synthesis was measured by means of quantitative autoradiography following a short-term incubation of the cells with 5 X 10(-6) M FUdR and 10(-5) M 14C-TdR. The choice of the medium for this purpose did not seem to be critical. The autoradiographic silver grains over cells and 14C-standard sources are counted by microphotometry using incident light bright-field. The direct measurements of DNA synthesis rate are 'compartment' statistics which have been converted into 'flux' parameters for comparison with the FLM method and applicability in cell-kinetic calculations. Frequency distributions of the rate of DNA synthesis of individual cells thus obtained may resemble normal distributions quite closely. They result from several factors: differences in the rate of synthesis in different parts of the S-phase, the density distribution of cells within the S-phase, the variation in the time of DNA synthesis among individual cells, and the experimental error. In the case of a pronounced partial synchronization as probably has been present in one experiment performed in the lag phase, an incorrect time of DNA synthesis may result from the rate values. Due to the variation in DNA synthesis rate in different parts of the S-phase it is not possible to determine the duration of DNA synthesis of an individual cell. However, the mean values of DNA synthesis time are reliable. The new method will be preferentially applied for determining the duration of DNA synthesis of human cells in as far as difficulties are encountered with the classical methods. In addition, it may be used to advantage for studying cells which make up low percentages in mixed populations. It finally permits a safer morphological classification of the cells under study than is possible with the classical methods.     

Sea urchin egg fertilization studied with a fluorescent probe (ANS)

The rates of intracellular DNA synthesis at various temperatures between 39 ° and 31 °C were determined in hamster fibroblasts and HeLa cells by measuring average amounts of ³H-thymidine incorporated per cell in S phase per unit of time. The energy of activation and Q₁₀ for intracellular DNA synthesis were calculated from the slopes of the relative rates of DNA synthesis in HeLa cells and hamster fibroblasts vs. time, plotted on Arrhenius coordinates. In both cell types the incorporation of thymidine into DNA is characterized by an energy of activation of 21 000 calories/mole and a Q₁₀ of 2.94. The absolute rates of DNA synthesis were determined in hamster cells at various temperatures, with values ranging from 1.44 to 0.60 × 10^?14 g DNA/ min/cell at 39 ° to 31 °C, respectively. The length of the S phase of the hamster cell was calculated over a 39 ° to 31 °C range, and found to be 5.0 to 11.9 h, respectively. It is concluded that the S phase length is partly determined by the rate of temperature-dependent DNA synthesis.     

Rate of DNA synthesis as a function of temperature in cultured hamster fibroblasts (V-79) and HeLa-S3 cells

The rates of intracellular DNA synthesis at various temperatures between 39 ° and 31 °C were determined in hamster fibroblasts and HeLa cells by measuring average amounts of ³H-thymidine incorporated per cell in S phase per unit of time. The energy of activation and Q₁₀ for intracellular DNA synthesis were calculated from the slopes of the relative rates of DNA synthesis in HeLa cells and hamster fibroblasts vs. time, plotted on Arrhenius coordinates. In both cell types the incorporation of thymidine into DNA is characterized by an energy of activation of 21 000 calories/mole and a Q₁₀ of 2.94. The absolute rates of DNA synthesis were determined in hamster cells at various temperatures, with values ranging from 1.44 to 0.60 × 10⁻¹⁴ g DNA/ min/cell at 39 ° to 31 °C, respectively. The length of the S phase of the hamster cell was calculated over a 39 ° to 31 °C range, and found to be 5.0 to 11.9 h, respectively. It is concluded that the S phase length is partly determined by the rate of temperature-dependent DNA synthesis.     

Changes in the mitotic cycle in lateral root meristems of Vicia faba following kinetin treatment

Roots of Vicia faba were treated with H³-Thymidine (1 C/ml) for one hour, either before or after a three hour treatment with a 10^–5 M solution of kinetin. The durations of the mitotic cycle and its constituent phases were then derived from the curves recording the rhythmic entry and exit of labeled cells in prophase, both for the kinetin treated roots and the controls. The rate of DNA synthesis was also determined for the control roots and for roots exposed to H³-Thymidine immediately following treatment with kinetin. — Control values for the durations of the mitotic cycle, G1, S, G2 and mitosis were in agreement with most of the results reported in the literature. Kinetin treatment resulted in an increase in the rate of DNA synthesis, but did not affect the number of cells undergoing DNA synthesis, i.e. kinetin, or a similar compound, may be involved in the control of the rate of DNA synthesis in plant root meristems, but it does not appear to be involved in the control of the initiation of the S period of interphase. — The durations of G1 and G2 are shorter and longer respectively in the kinetin treated roots as compared with the control values. Changes in the durations of these phases of interphase, S, cycle time and the rate of cell proliferation have been discussed with respect to time after kinetin treatment and their possible relationship to carbohydrate metabolism.Research supported by an Assistant Professor Research Grant from the University of Missouri — St. Louis.     

Stimulation of pancreatic secretory process in the rat by low-molecular weight proteinase inhibitor

Summary Previous studies with rats have shown that a single oral dose of the proteinase inhibitor Camostate (FOY-305) induces release of cholecystokinin (CCK) into the circulation, which lasts for 3 to 6h. This transient endogenous release of hormone results in a depletion of pancreatic enzyme stores within 1 h and an increase in total rate of protein synthesis, which peaks at 6 to 9 h. At the level of individual enzyme biosynthesis a transient decrease in amylase and an increase in trypsinogen and chymotrypsinogen is observed. In the present study the time course of DNA synthesis and the labeling index of 5 populations of pancreatic cells have been analysed following a single oral dose of 50 or 100 mg/kg proteinase inhibitor, using in vivo labeling with 12 Ci/g body weight ³H-thymidine 1 h prior to sacrifice of the animals. DNA synthesis did not change during the initial 12 h following inhibitor feeding and then showed a phasic increase with a peak (20-fold) at 24h and intermediate increases (4- to 5-fold) at 18 and 36 h, respectively. From the 5 pancreatic cell populations studied by autoradiography the labeling indices of interlobular duct cells and islet cells did not change over the entire observation period. Acinar cells, intralobular duct cells and interstitial cells showed a marked increase in labeling index with peak values at 24h, which were 20-fold in acinar cells and 5.5- and 8.5-fold in intralobular duct cells and interstitial cells, respectively. The data demonstrate a significant growth response of pancreatic acinar tissue after a single episode of endogenous CCK-release, which is similar in extent, time course and cellular source as previously demonstrated during persistent stimulation of the pancreas by prolonged infusion of the CCK-analogue caerulein.     

Spores of microorganisms

A pulse incorporation of radioactive precursors into the cells was used in studying the rate of RNA and protein synthesis during postgerminative development of spores ofBacillus cereus. It was found that the extractable pool of the spores can be enriched by these precursors during swelling and preelongation. During this period of differentiation of a spore to a primary cell,¹⁴C-uracil and to a smaller extent¹⁴C-adenine are more rapidly used for RNA synthesis. Labelled¹⁴C-leucine and³⁶S-methionine are found mostly in the extractable fraction of the cells. However, their rate of incorporation into proteins is not higher. Differences in utilization of precursors for the synthesis of macromolecules are apparently caused by different availability for the metabolic pool of the cell. Of the precursors tested¹⁴C-uracil seems to be selectively incorporated into RNA with a higher rate. This can be explained by a selective permeability into metabolic pool or by an increased need of uracil during preelongation period.     

Reversible tenfod reduction in mitochondrial DNA content of human cells treated with ethidium bromide

Summary Cells of the human line VA₂-B in suspension culture have been treated with very low concentrations of ethidium bromide for the purpose of reducing the amount of mitochondrial DNA (mit-DNA) per cell. Cells maintained in the presence of 5 ng/ml ethidium bromide grew at a normal rate for three days; thereafter, their doubling time gradually increased to a stable value of about 60 h. In these cells, the rate of ³H thymidine incorporation into mit-DNA decreased very rapidly to 60% of the normal, and remained thereafter at this level, while the amount of mit-DNA per cell stabilized around a level of 70–80% of the control. In cells long-term treated with 5 ng/ml ethidium bromide, the rate of mitochondrial protein synthesis was about 35% of the normal, and the cytochrome c oxidase activity about 50% of the control. Cells treated with 20 ng/ml of the drug underwent 3–4 cell doublings at control rates, then gradually stopped growing, and eventually died. In these cells, the rate of incorporation of ³H thymidine into mit-DNA was reduced to 50% of the control value after 10 min treatment with ethidium bromide, and became barely detectable after three cell doublings. At this time, the cells had on the average less than 10% of the control amount of mit-DNA, the rate of mitochondrial protein synthesis was reduced to 3% of the normal, and the specific activities of cytochrome c oxidase and rutamycin-sensitive ATPase were less than 20% of the control values. In spite of these marked changes, the cells exhibited only a 20–30% loss in cell viability, as estimated by cloning efficiency, after three days of exposure to the drug. Cells treated with ethidium bromide at 20 ng/ml for three days, and then transferred to drug-free medium, recovered a near-to-normal growth rate and cloning efficiency and a near-to-normal rate of synthesis and amount of mit-DNA in about five days.     

Nuclear differentiation and nucleic acid synthesis in well-fed exconjugants of Paramecium aurelia

Paramecium aurelia exconjugants contain new macronuclear anlagen and numerous fragments of the old pre-zygotic macronucleus. Macronuclear anlagen develop during the first two cell cycles after conjugation. During this time their volume increases from about 11 m³ to about 3700 m³ and more than 10 doublings of DNA content occur. The rate of DNA synthesis is between two and three times as great as in the vegetative macronucleus. — In macronuclear fragments, however, DNA synthesis is suppressed. The rate of DNA synthesis in macronuclear fragments during the extended first cell cycle after conjugation (11 1/2 hr. vs. 5 1/2 hr. for the vegetative cell cycle) is only about one-third of the rate in vegetative macronuclei and there is only a 65% increase in the mean DNA content of fragments. The rate of fragment DNA synthesis continues to decrease during each of the subsequent two cell cycles. — Unlike the rate of DNA synthesis, the rate of RNA synthesis per unit of DNA is similar in macronuclear anlagen, macronuclear fragments and fully developed macronuclei. Macronuclear fragments continue to synthesize RNA at the normal rate long after the new macronuclei are fully developed. Fragments contribute about 80% of all RNA synthesized during the first two cell cycles after conjugation. RNA synthesis begins very early in the development of macronuclear anlagen and nucleolar material appears during the first half-hour of anlage development. — Chromosome-like structures were never observed during anlage development and there was no evidence of two periods of DNA synthesis separated by a DNA poor stage as has been observed in several hypotrichous Ciliates.     

Ambulatory oxygen: why do COPD patients not use their portable systems as prescribed? A qualitative study

Background

In mechanically ventilated preterm infants with respiratory distress syndrome (RDS), exogenous surfactant application has been demonstrated both to decrease DNA-synthesis but also and paradoxically to increase epithelial cell proliferation. However, the effect of exogenous surfactant has not been studied directly on alveolar type II cells (ATII cells), a key cell type responsible for alveolar function and repair.

Objective

The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of two commercially available surfactant preparations on ATII cell viability and DNA synthesis.

Methods

Curosurf^® and Alveofact^® were applied to two ATII cell lines (human A549 and mouse iMATII cells) and to primary rat ATII cells for periods of up to 24 h. Cell viability was measured using the redox indicator resazurin and DNA synthesis was measured using BrdU incorporation.

Results

Curosurf^® resulted in slightly decreased cell viability in all cell culture models. However, DNA synthesis was increased in A549 and rat ATII cells but decreased in iMATII cells. Alveofact^® exhibited the opposite effects on A549 cells and had very mild effects on the other two cell models.

Conclusion

This study showed that commercially available exogenous surfactants used to treat preterm infants with RDS can have profound effects on cell viability and DNA synthesis.     

VITAMIN B12 AND THE MACROMOLECULAR COMPOSITION OF EUGLENA : III. Effect of Cycloheximide on the Recovery from B12-Induced Unbalanced Growth

When cycloheximide is added to (B12)-deficient cultures before or after replenishment of the cells with B₁₂, reversion of these cells is inhibited. This inhibition is not caused by interference of the inhibitor in the uptake of B₁₂ as measured by division kinetics. Cycloheximide does not inhibit the initial increase in the rate of DNA synthesis caused by B₁₂ replenishment, but within 30–45 min the rate decreases and DNA synthesis ceases. Cycloheximide added to replenished deficient cells after completion of DNA duplication inhibits cell division. The total cellular protein and RNA in replenished cells treated with cycloheximide does not change. B₁₂ added to deficient cells does not stimulate the incorporation of [¹⁴C]leucine into protein during resumption and completion of DNA duplication. However, there is a large increase in [¹⁴C]leucine incorporation into the protein of these cells soon after completion of DNA duplication and before resumption of cell division. The addition of cycloheximide to B₁₂-replenished or to nonreplenished deficient cells rapidly inhibits the incorporation. We suggest that the addition of B₁₂ accelerates the rate of DNA synthesis in the deficient cells and that possibly no new protein synthesis is required except for mitosis. However, protein synthesis is needed for continuous DNA synthesis.     

In vitro-Verfahren zur Bestimmung der DNS-Synthese-Dauer einzelner Zellen Biochemische Voraussetzungen und Ergebnisse

Zusammenfassung Nach Hemmung der de novo-Synthese von TMP durch 5-F-UdR läuft die DNS-Synthese in vitro in Anwesenheit von 10^–5 M/l mit unveränderter Geschwindigkeit ab. Dadurch ist die DNS-Synthese-Dauer über die quantitative autoradiographische Messung des ¹⁴C-TdR-Einbaus bestimmbar. Diese in vitro-Methode wird an Rattenknochenmark und Zellen einer CML geprüft. Erste Ergebnisse zeigen eine gute Übereinstimmung mit in vivo-Messungen durch andere Methoden.

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In vitro determination of the duration of DNA synthesis of individual cells

Summary Suspended haemopoietic cells are incubated in the presence of 5-fluoro-deoxyuridine (5-F-UdR) as an inhibitor of the de novo synthesis of thymidine monophosphate (TMP). The DNA synthesis rate remains undisturbed, if 10^–5 M/l thymidine (TdR) is added. Thus, the DNA synthesis rate of individual cells can be determined by means of a quantitative autoradiographic method in measuring the incorporation rate of ¹⁴C-TdR into the DNA of the cells. DNA synthesis rates are then converted into DNA synthesis times. This in vitro method has been checked in cells of rat bone marrow and of peripheral blood in a case of chronic myelocytic leukaemia (CML). Preliminary results correlate well with in vivo estimations obtained by other methods.

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Studie im Rahmen des Assoziationsvertrages EURATOM-GSF für Hämatologie Nr. 031 641 BIAD

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Unterstützt durch die Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft: SFB 51/5     

Genetic evidence that aphidicolin inhibits in vivo DNA synthesis in Chinese hamster ovary cells

Using a genetic approach, Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells sensitive (aph^S) and resistant (aph^R) to aphidicolin were grown in the presence or absence of various DNA polymerase inhibitors, and the newly synthesized DNA isolated from [³²P]dNMP-labelled, detergent-permeabilized cells, was characterized after fractionation by gel electrophoresis. The particular aph ^Rmutant CHO cell line used was one selected for resistance to aphidicolin and found to possess an altered DNA polymerase of the a-family. The synthesis of a 24 kb replication intermediate was inhibited in wild-type CHO cells grown in the presence of aphidicolin, whereas the synthesis of this replication intermediate was not inhibited by this drug in the mutant CHO cells or in the aphidicolin-resistant somatic cell hybrid progeny constructed by fusion of wild-type and mutant cell lines. Arabinofuranosylcytosine (ara-C), like aphidicolin, inhibited the synthesis of this 24 kb DNA replication intermediate in the wild-type CHO cells but not in the aph^R mutant cells. However, carbonyldiphosphonate (COMDP) inhibited the synthesis of the 24 kb replication intermediate in both wild-type and mutant cells. N²-(p-n-Butylphenyl)-2 deoxyguanisine-5-triphosphate (BuPdGTP) was found to inhibit the formation of Okazaki fragments equally well in the wild-type and mutant cell lines and thus led to inhibition of synthesis of DNA intermediates in both cases. It appears that aphidicolin and ara-C both affect a common target on the DNA polymerase, which is different from that affected by COMDP in vivo. These data also show that aphidicolin, ara-C and COMDP affect the elongation activity of DNA polymerase but not the initiation activity of the enzyme during DNA replication. This is the first report of such differentiation of the DNA polymerase activities during nuclear DNA replication in mammalian cells. The method of analysis described here for replication intermediates can be used to examine the inhibitory activities of other chemicals on DNA synthesis.     

Independence of Cell Division and DNA Replication in <Emphasis Type="Italic">Bacillus subtilis</Emphasis>

IN Escherichia coli the completion of a round of chromosome replication is necessary before cell division can take place^1,2. A normal cell is therefore unable to divide unless it has at least two chromosomes. If DNA synthesis is specifically inhibited, cell division will continue only until each cell contains a single chromosome. Division then ceases but growth continues so that long filamentous cells are formed³. We describe here the consequences of blocking DNA synthesis in Bacillus subtilis. In this case division of the growing cells continues in spite of the inhibition of DNA replication. Eventually, not only are all pre-existing chromosomes segregated into separate cells but large numbers of cells are formed which contain no DNA.     

Cell density-dependent changes of glycosphingolipid biosynthesis in cultured human skin fibroblasts

In this study, the glycosphingolipid biosynthesis was investigated in the sparse and the confluent cell populations of cultured human skin fibroblasts.The human skin fibroblast cell populations were metabolically pulse labeled with ¹⁴C-galactose (48 h). The amounts of ¹⁴C-radioactivity (cpm) incorporated into extracted and purified total cellular glycosphingolipid fractions were counted by -scintillation and the individual glycosphingolipid species were separated by high performance thin layer chromatography and visualized by autoradiography. The relative labeling (%) of individual newly synthesized glycosphingolipid species was detected by densitometric scanning of autoradiographic glycosphingolipid patterns.The incorporation of ¹⁴C-label into total glycosphingolipids per cell increased significantly as the cell-density increased, referring to five fold higher rate of glycosphingolipid biosynthesis de novo in cells at confluency vs. sparse populations. The total newly synthesized glycosphingolipid pattern (100%) of sparse cell populations showed a significant predominance of the gangliosides (70%) over the neutral glycosphingolipids (30%), with ganglioside GM2 as the major species followed by monohexosyl-ceramide. Oppositely, the newly synthesized neutral glycosphingolipids (67%) predominated over the gangliosides (33%) in cells at confluency (contact inhibition). Cells reaching confluency were characterized by: (a) a dramatic increase of absolute amount of all newly synthesized neutral glycosphingolipid species, particularly the most abundant monohexosyl-ceramide and trihexosyl-ceramide, but also of the ganglioside GM3; (b) a drastic decrease of absolute amount of newly synthesized ganglioside GM2. The specific shift in newly synthesized glycosphingolipid pattern in cells reaching confluency suggests a down-regulation of biosynthetic pathway primarily at the level of N-acetylgalactosaminyl-transferase. A possible involvement of glycosphingolipids in cell density-dependent regulation of cell growth through establishment of the direct intermolecular intermembrane interactions is discussed.     

Proliferating Cell Nuclear Antigen Is Protected from Degradation by Forming a Complex with MutT Homolog2

Proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) has been demonstrated to interact with multiple proteins involved in several metabolic pathways such as DNA replication and repair. However, there have been fewer reports about whether these PCNA-binding proteins influence stability of PCNA. Here, we observed a physical interaction between PCNA and MutT homolog2 (MTH2), a new member of the MutT-related proteins that hydrolyzes 8-oxo-7,8-dihydrodeoxyguanosine triphosphate (8-oxo-dGTP). In several unstressed human cancer cell lines and in normal human fibroblast cells, PCNA and MTH2 formed a complex and their mutual binding fragments were confirmed. It was intriguing that PCNA and MTH2 were dissociated dependent on acetylation of PCNA, which in turn induced degradation of PCNA in response to UV irradiation, but not in response to other forms of DNA-damaging stress. To further explore the link between dissociation of PCNA-MTH2 and degradation of PCNA, RNAi against MTH2 was performed to mimic the dissociated status of PCNA to evaluate changes in the half-life of PCNA. Knockdown of MTH2 significantly promoted degradation of PCNA, suggesting that the physiological interaction of PCNA-MTH2 may confer protection from degradation for PCNA, whereas UV irradiation accelerates PCNA degradation by inducing dissociation of PCNA-MTH2. Moreover, secondary to degradation of PCNA, UV-induced inhibition of DNA synthesis or cell cycle progression was enhanced. Collectively, our data demonstrate for the first time that PCNA is protected by this newly identified partner molecule MTH2, which is related to DNA synthesis and cell cycle progression.Proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA)³ is a member of the DNA sliding clamp family and consists of a ring-shaped trimeric complex (1–3). Three PCNA monomers, each comprising two similar domains, are joined in a head-to-tail arrangement to form a closed ring (4, 5). Because of this unique structure, PCNA encircles the DNA double helix and slides freely along it. PCNA was originally characterized as a DNA polymerase processivity factor and it increases the processivity of DNA synthesis by interacting with polymerase δ (6, 7). Subsequent studies revealed that PCNA plays an important role in DNA replication (8, 9). For example, PCNA not only functions as a protein binding platform to interact with the DNA polymerases, flap endonuclease-1 (Fen1) or DNA ligase I (10–12), but also coordinates complicated processes in DNA replication (2, 13). In addition, PCNA also plays a role in DNA damage repair (14–17) and cell cycle control (18–20).Because PCNA is essential for DNA synthesis both in DNA replication and repair, a dynamic balance between PCNA synthesis and degradation is critical for maintaining normal DNA synthesis. Up-regulation of PCNA accelerates DNA synthesis and promotes cell proliferation, such that PCNA is regarded as a general proliferation marker in tumor development. On the other hand, degradation of PCNA leads to inhibition of DNA synthesis (9, 21). In this case, in response to inhibition of DNA synthesis by PCNA degradation, both cell proliferation and DNA repair are inhibited, and cells are thus subject to death.In Escherichia coli, MutT protein encoded by the mutT gene has 8-oxo-dGTPase activity, and hydrolyzes 8-oxo-dGTP to 8-oxo-dGMP, which is nonutilizable for DNA synthesis, thus preventing misincorporation of 8-oxo-dGTP into DNA (22). 8-Oxo-dGTP is a product of dGTP oxidation and can be inserted into opposite dA or dC residues of template DNA at almost equal efficiencies. As a result, G:C to T:A or T:A to G:C transversion mutations occur (22–24). In a mutT-deficient strain, the rate of spontaneous occurrence of A:T to C:G transversion increases by 1000-fold compared with that of cells with wild type mutT (25–27). Therefore, MutT protein is required for preventing mutations and maintaining high fidelity of DNA replication (28). In addition, RibA is a backup enzyme for MutT in E. coli and also plays a role in maintaining high fidelity of DNA replication (29). The MutT homologue MTH1 is the first MutT-related protein found in mammalian cells (30). The spontaneous mutation frequency in MTH1-deficient cells showed an increase of ∼2-fold as compared with that in wild type MTH1 cells (31). Comparing the mutation frequency in mutT-deficient E. coli cells with that in MTH1-deficient mammalian cells suggests that there must be other proteins responsible for preventing occurrence of high numbers of oxidative damage induced mutations in mammalian cells. By searching the GenBank^TM EST data base, our research group and others (32) have cloned a new member of MutT-related protein, MTH2. The increased mutation frequency in mutT-deficient cells was significantly reduced by overexpression of MTH2 cDNA (32). Therefore, MTH2 may help to ensure cells achieve accurate DNA synthesis. However, aside from the activity of 8-oxo-dGTPase, the exact mechanism by which MTH2 influences DNA synthesis has not been explored.The functions of both PCNA and MTH2 partially overlap in DNA synthesis, thus warranting exploration of whether MTH2 works together with PCNA to regulate DNA replication or repair. In this study, we found that MTH2 directly interacts with PCNA, and this interaction enhances PCNA stability. However, when cells were exposed to UV light, the interaction of MTH2 and PCNA was disrupted, and PCNA degradation was accelerated. Consequently, DNA synthesis was reduced, and cell cycling was arrested.     

The effect of puromycin and cycloheximide on vacuole formation and exocytosis in Tetrahymena pyriformis GL-9

It has been shown that both puromycin and cycloheximide, at concentrations of 434 and 100 g/ml respectively, produce a marked inhibition of vacuole formation and exocytosis in Tetrahymena pyriformis GL-9. These effects were analysed in a quantitative manner. At the same time as these inhibitions occurred the incorporation of 1-C¹⁴ leucine into trichloroacetic acid precipitable material was inhibited by 90% and 100% respectively over a 40 min period. This inhibition of protein synthesis by cycloheximide occurred almost immediately, whereas the inhibition of vacuole formation and egestion was delayed. The results suggested that the latter processes were dependent upon a continuing supply of proteinaceous material, of which there was only a small store within the cell. Cycloheximide inhibited exocytosis completely under the conditions employed (with 100% inhibition of protein synthesis) whereas puromycin (with a 90% inhibition of protein synthesis) only inhibited it by about 50%. This suggested that the amount of newly synthesized protein required for the exocytic egestion process was very small in relation to the total cell requirement for protein synthesis. The entry of both inhibitors into the cell was by means other than vacuole formation. Puromycin appeared to have some effect on vacuole formation which was unconnected with protein synthesis. Microscopic observations of living cells indicated that oral apparatus function and endocytic vacuole formation were probably both affected by the inhibitors. Chloramphenicol, at 200 g/ml, had little effect on vacuole formation by starved cells with an exposure of an hour. The uptake of 1-C¹⁴ leucine from the growth medium was found to be a selective process, giving a concentration of about 2000 times into the cells over a 1 hr period. The results are discussed.     

Parameters of unbalanced growth and reversible inhibition of deoxyribonucleic acid synthesis in Brevibacterium ammoniagenes ATCC 6872 induced by depletion of Mn2+. Inhibitor studies on the reversibility of deoxyribonucleic acid synthesis

Unbalanced growth induced by depletion of manganese ions was a prerequisite for production of ribonucleotides in a high salt mineral medium with the wildtype strain Brevibacterium ammoniagenes ATCC 6872. The concentration of manganese strictly controlled the overall deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) synthesis, whereas ribonucleic acid (RNA), protein and cell wall synthesis remained essentially unimpaired in the manganese-lacking cells.The reversibility of inhibition of overall DNA synthesis was shown by enhanced incorporation (up to threefold compared to the cultures supplied with sufficient manganese) of [8-¹⁴C] adenine into alkali-stable, trichloroacetic acid-insoluble material after subsequent addition of 10 M MnCl₂ to 15 h-old depleted cultures.The results of inhibitor studies on the restoration of overall DNA synthesis due to subsequent addition of manganese ions to depleted cultures suggest that ribonucleotide reduction is the primary target of the manganese starvation during nucleotide fermentation with Brevibacterium ammoniagenes ATCC 6872.