Phosphorylation of chromosomal proteins as a function of age and its modulation by calcium

$\text{In vitro}$ phosphorylation of histones and non histone chromosomal proteins (NHCP) and its modulation by calcium have been studied using slices of cerebral hemisphere of rats of various ages. Phosphorylation of histones decreases, and that of NHCP increases with increasing age. Calcium inhibits phosphorylation of histones of young and adult rats, but stimulates phosphorylation of NHCP. Phosphorylation of H1 and H4 histones is greater than that of other histones, and calcium inhibits their phosphorylation more markedly than of other histones. The significance of such modifications of chromosomal proteins in the aging process is discussed.     

Polyamine induced changes in the ADP-ribosylation of nuclear proteins from rat liver

Purified rat liver nuclei were incubated $\text{in vitro}$ with [³H]NAD. Altered patterns of ADP-ribosylation of nuclear proteins occurred with 1 mM spermidine or spermine with the latter polyamine causing the greater change. Spermine treated nuclei showed a two-fold increase in ADP-ribose incorporation into H1 histones and a decrease in the other histones. Likewise, the incorporation into the more acidic non-histone nuclear proteins was greater with spermine than spermidine. These results suggest that polyamines may exert a regulatory function by altering the pattern of ADP-ribosylation of both histone and non-histone nuclear proteins.     

Synthesis and accumulation of polyamines in rat liver regenerating after treatment with carbon tetrachloride

A single intraperitoneal injection of carbon tetrachloride into rats resulted within 12 hours in a marked accumulation of putrescine in liver with a concomitant decrease in the concentration of spermidine. The accumulation of putrescine apparently was partly due to an immense stimulation of ornithine decarboxylase activity occurring at the same time. However, in addition it was found that during the maximal accumulation of putrescine there was a marked incorporation of radioactivity from labelled spermidine to liver putrescine $\text{in vivo}$. The conversion of spermidine to liver putrescine was hardly detectable in control animals. Besides the treatment with carbon tetrachloride, increased conversion of radioactive spermidine to liver putrescine $\text{in vivo}$ also occurred after treatment with growth hormone, after partial hepatectomy and after treatment with thioacetamide, $\text{i. e.}$ under circumstances characterized by a stimulation of ornithine decarboxylase activity and an increased accumulation of putrescine.     

Chemically induced gene activation: Selective increase in DNAase I susceptibility in chromatin acetylated with acetyl adenylate

Treatment of calf thymus chromatin with acetyl adenylate under appropriate conditions produces acetylation of histones. The pattern of histone acetylation obtained is similar to that produced $\text{in}$$\text{vivo}$. The acetylated chromatin shows increased sensitivity to DNAase I but no increased sensitivity to Staphylococcal nuclease. These digestion patterns are similar to those observed in active genes.     

Rapid modulation by progesterone and tamoxifen of estradiol effects on nuclear histone acetylation in the uterus of the fetal guinea pig

The effect of estradiol, progesterone, tamoxifen, estradiol + progesterone or estradiol + tamoxifen on the [³H]acetylation of histones in the fetal uterus of guinea pig was studied. The fetuses were injected subcutaneously ‘in situ’ with the hormones or $\text{tamoxifen}\text{+ [}{}^3\text{H}\text{]}\text{acetate}$ alone. In 10 min, estradiol stimulated the acetylation of histone 10–12-times with respect to the control animals. Progesterone and tamoxifen blocked this effect. It is suggested that histone acetylation is an early step induced by estrogen action during intrauterine life and that progesterone and tamoxifen suppress this mechanism very effectively.     

Phosphorylation and acetylation of nonhistone chromosomal proteins of the brain of rats of various ages and their modulation by calcium and estradiol.

$\text{In}\text{vitro}$ phosphorylation and acetylation of nonhistone chromosomal (NHC) proteins and their modulation by Ca⁺⁺ and estradiol were studied by incubating slices of cerebral cortex of 2-, 15- and 84-week female rats with ³²Pi and ¹⁴C-Na-acetate. Phosphorylation pattern of NHC proteins is unique for each age. Ca⁺⁺ and estradiol stimulate phosphorylation of different NHC proteins which is also age-specific. Acetylation of NHC proteins decreases precipitously with age. No unique NHC protein is acetylated preferentially at any age, nor does Ca⁺⁺ stimulate acetylation. Estradiol, however, stimulates acetylation of a few NHC proteins. It is suggested that phosphorylation of NHC proteins and its modulation by effectors may be more important for gene expression than their acetylation.     

Occurrence and induction of spermidine-N1-acetyltransferase in Escherichia coli

Spermidine acetylase activity was detected in extracts prepared from $\text{Escherichia coli}$ and there was a marked increase in activity over the early period of growth. This increase reached a maximum 3 h after inoculation and was followed by an increase in ornithine decarboxylase activity. The acetylase was also able to use spermine as a substrate, but not putrescine. With spermidine and acetyl-CoA as substrate, the product formed was exclusively N¹-acetyl-spermidine. This is the first evidence for the occurrence in bacteria of spermidine-N¹-acetyltransferase, an enzyme which has previously been described in mammalian cells. These results suggest that acetylation of spermidine may be involved in the growth of $\text{Escherichia coli}$ and in the regulation of its polyamine content.     

Relationship between polyamine contents and protease activity in the rat submaxillary gland

The effect of polyamines on the protease activity in the submaxillary gland of castrated rats has been investigated in vivo. The protease activity, which is increased by testosterone, is also increased to a lesser degree by the subcutaneous administration of spermidine. The administration of putrescine was less effective than that of spermidine. The increase of polyamine contents in the submaxillary gland of the castrated rats administered either testosterone or spermidine was nearly parallel to the increase of the enzymatic activity. The administration of methylglyoxal bis(guanylhydrazone), a potent inhibitor of spermidine synthesis, with testosterone inhibited slightly the increase of the protease activity by testosterone, while the administration of the inhibitor with spermidine had essentially no effect on the increase of the enzymatic activity by spermidine. The administration of testosterone also caused a slight increase of $\text{S-}\text{adenosyl-}\text{L}\text{-menthionine}$ decarboxylase activity. These results suggest that spermidine synthesis may be necessary for the stimulation by testosterone of protease synthesis in the rat submaxillary gland.     

Effect of methylglyoxal bis (guanylhydrazone) (MGBG) in vivo on the decarboxylation of s-adenosylmethionine and synthesis of spermidine in the rat and guinea pig.

The rates of decarboxylation of $\text{S}$-adenosylmethionine and synthesis of spermidine have been measured in extracts of liver, kidney and brain of the rat and guinea pig after intraperitoneal injection of MGBG, both before and after dialysis. The rate of decarboxylation of $\text{S}$-adenosylmethionine paralleled that of spermidine synthesis in all of the tissues investigated, even when spermidine synthesis was measured using preformed decarboxylated $\text{S}$-adenosylmethionine as substrate instead of $\text{S}$-adenosylmethionine itself. MGBG inhibited CO₂ production and spermidine synthesis to a similar extent in extracts of liver and kidney of both the rat and the guinea pig. After dialysis, a similar increase in both CO₂ production and spermidine synthesis was noted in these extracts. No effects on CO₂ production or spermidine synthesis were noted on extracts of brain of the rat or guinea pig, either before or after dialysis. When MGBG was injected intracisternally, CO₂ production and spermidine synthesis by extracts of brain were inhibited to the same extent, and after dialysis a similar increase in CO₂ production and spermidine synthesis was observed. These results indicate that the effects of MGBG are essentially the same in brain as they are in liver and kidney, and the MGBG injected intraperitoneally does not pass into the brain.     

Inhibition of phorbol ester-induced polyamine accumulation in mouse epidermis by anti-inflammatory steroid

Application of the tumor-promoting phorbol diester 12-$\text{O}$-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate to mouse epidermis causes a large increase in the activity of ornithine decarboxylase and in polyamine accumulation. Concurrent application of fluocinolone acetonide, an anti-inflammatory steroid that dramatically inhibits tumor promotion, resulted in a dose-dependent decrease in the 12-$\text{O}$-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate-stimulated ornithine decarboxylase activity and the subsequent rise in spermidine levels. Spermine and putrescine levels were not greatly affected by fluocinoline acetonide treatment except that maximal putrescine values occurred later in time. Doses of the glucocorticoid as low as 0.1 μg inhibited the 12-$\text{O}$-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate-induced ornithine decarboxylase activity by as much as 50% and the rise in spermidine accumulation by 30% after coincident treatment of female Sencar mice.     

Differential inhibition of mammalian aminopropyltransferase activities

Rat ventral prostate spermine synthetase was inhibited by 5′-methylthioadenosine and by S-adenosylhomocysteine at concentrations which did not inhibit spermidine synthetase from the same tissue. S-Adenosylethionine inhibited both enzymes to an equal extent. These aminopropyltransferases were also inhibited by diamines not normally present in mammalian cells. All the α,ω-diamines with 3 to 12 C atoms had inhibitory activity, but 1,3-diaminopropane and 1,5-diaminopentane were most active. Spermine synthetase was more sensitive than spermidine synthetase to the effects of these diamines. These results suggest that the relative rates of spermidine and spermine formation $\text{in}$,$\text{vivo}$ might be affected by the intracellular concentration of nucleosides such as S-adenosylhomocysteine. They also raise the possibility that these rates of synthesis could be selectively affected by administration of one or the other of these inhibitors.     

Responsibility of 16S RNA for the stimulation of polypeptide synthesis by spermidine.

From the studies on the spermidine stimulation of polyphenylalanine synthesis catalyzed by $\text{E. coli}$ 50S and reconstituted 30S particles containing 16S RNA and 30S ribosomal proteins from $\text{E. coli}$ and $\text{B. thuringiensis}$ in different kinds of combinations, it is concluded that 16S RNA is mainly responsible for the stimulation of polypeptide synthesis by spermidine.     

Effect of polyamines on phosphorylation of non-histone chromatin proteins from hog liver.

The effects of polyamines on the $\text{in vitro}$ phosphorylation of non-histone chromatin proteins from hog liver has been found to be dose dependent. Maximal increase occurred at 0.2 mM spermine and 2 mM spermidine, respectively. These results suggest that spermine and spermidine may have a regulating function for phosphorylation of non-histone chromatin proteins in hog liver.     

A study of the relationships between carbon tetrachloride-induced lipid peroxidation and liver damage in rats pretreated with vitamin E

The relationships between the peroxidation of musomal lipids and the early liver damage have been investigated in rats pretreated with progressively higher doses of α-tocopherol (vit. E) and intoxicated with various amounts of carbon tetrachloride.Pretreatment of rats with vit. E at 25 $\text{mg}\text{100g}$ body wt. has minor effects on both the peroxidation of musomal lipids and the liver triglyceride accumulation in rats poisoned with CC1₄ at 250 $\text{μl}\text{100g}$ body wt. However, a decrease of the peroxidative reaction and of the liver steatosis occurs when the rats are pretreated with progressively higher doses of vit.E. A close correlation exists between the two phenomena, when the intoxication is accomplished with CC1₄ at 250 $\text{μ1}\text{100 g}$ body wt. Also, the musomal concentration of α-tocopherol is strictly correlated to both the decrease of musomal lipoperoxidation and the decrease of liver triglyceride accumulation. The CCl₄-induced impairment of musomal glucose-6-phosphatase and the incorporation of ¹⁴C from ¹⁴CC1₄ into liver musomal lipids are not affected by vit. E pretreatment.The extent of musomal lipoperoxidation is not correlated to the liver triglyceride accumulation when vit. E-pretreated rats are given CC1₄ at 25 or 2.5 $\text{μ1}\text{100 g}$ body wt. However, a correlation between lipoperoxidation and liver steatosis occurs when non-pretreated rats are challenged with the three different doses of the halogenated hydrocarbon.     

Timing of ubiquitin synthesis and conjugation into protein A24 during the HeLa cell cycle

The phosphorylative modification $\text{in vivo}$ of histones after shortterm (0 to 60 min) isoproterenol stimulation of confluent rat C6 glioma cell cultures has been investigated. Analysis of the phosphorylation patterns after the purification and separation of histones by SDS/polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis revealed significantly increased phosphorylation of histones H1-1 and H3 and a decrease of the phosphorylation of histones H1-3, H2A, and H2B. There was no apparent effect of isoproterenol on the net phosphorylation of histones H1-2 and H4. The data suggest an effect of isoproterenol on the phosphorylative modification of glioma cell histones via modulation of nuclear phosphorylating and dephosphorylating activities.     

The in vivo equivalence of a cell-free system for RNA processing and transport

The equivalence of messenger RNA released (transported) from isolated rat liver nuclei to three selected media, with messenger RNA normally released to liver cytoplasm $\text{in vivo}$, has been evaluated by competitive DNA: RNA hybridization. Near normal nuclear restriction was exhibited by nuclei in media fortified with ATP, salts, spermidine and dialyzed cytosol. The RNA transport in the latter system was markedly inhibited by colchicine as was also the transport of RNA $\text{in vivo}$. Both nuclear restriction and sensitivity of the RNA transport to colchicine in media lacking spermidine and cytosol deviated significantly from the $\text{in vivo}$ norm. The results emphasize the importance of establishing the $\text{in vivo}$ equivalence in cell-free systems designed to study RNA synthesis, processing and transport.     

Polyamine metabolism in the kidneys of castrated and testosterone-treated mice after administration of methylglyoxal bis(guanylhydrazone)

The effects of methylglyoxal bis(guanylhydrazone) on $\text{S-}\text{adenosyl}\text{-}\text{l}\text{-}\text{methionine}$ decarboxylase (EC 4.1.1.50) activity were studied in the mouse kidney stimulated to growth by testosterone administration. The drug was found to be a potent inhibitor of the enzyme in vitro. Administration of methylglyoxal bis(guanylhydrazone) in vivo resulted in a transient inhibition followed by a strong enhancement of the enzyme activity. Dialysis of the kidney extract, to remove remaining methylglyoxal bis(guanylhydrazone), revealed a great and rapid increase in the activity of $\text{S-}\text{adenosyl}\text{-}\text{l}\text{-}\text{methionine}$ decarboxylase. Injections of testosterone to castrated mice resulted in a marked increase in kidney weight and an accumulation of renal putrescine, spermidine and spermine. These effects of testosterone could not be blocked by simultaneous injections of methylglyoxal bis(guanylhydrazone). It appears that due to secondary effects by which the inhibition of methylglyoxal bis(guanylhydrazone) on $\text{S-}\text{adenosyl}\text{-}\text{l}\text{-}\text{methionine}$ decarboxylase activity is circumvented the inhibitor seems to be of uncertain value in attempts to decrease selectively the in vivo levels of polyamines.     

Specific and potent inhibition of spermidine synthase by the transition-state analog,S-adenosyl-3-thio-1,8-diaminooctane

The title compound ($\text{1}\text{c}$), was designed and synthesized based on mechanistic data concerning enzyme-catalyzed alkyl transfer reactions, applied in this case to aminopropyl transferases. The inhibition by $\text{1}\text{c}$ of one such enzyme, spermidine synthase, was both potent (I₅₀ = 4 × 10^?7M) and specific. A closely related aminopropyltransferase, spermine synthase was only minimally affected by high concentrations of $\text{1}\text{c}$. Similar, although not as marked, specifity between the two aminopropyltransferases was observed with the corresponding methyl sulfonium salt, $\text{2}\text{c}$. Studies with structurally related compounds support the hypothesis that the strong inhibition of spermidine synthase by $\text{1}\text{c}$ derives from the incorporation in this compound of important features of the transition-state structure of this enzyme-catalyzed reaction.     

Cyclic change in polyamine concentrations in sea urchin eggs related with cleavage cycle.

Spermidine and spermine are found in unfertilized eggs of the sea urchin, $\text{Hemicentrotus}\text{pulcherrimus}$. Putrescine becomes detectable and concentrations of spermidine and spermine increase in the eggs upon fertilization. Then, concentrations of these polyamines decrease after respective peaks in polyamine concentrations. The peaks in the concentrations are found at 15 minutes post fertilization for putrescien, at 30 minutes for spermidine and at 30–40 minutes for spermine respectively. Levels of polyamines elevate again and reduce after the 2nd concentration peaks of respective compounds, and then the first cleavage of the eggs takes place. Cyclic change in each polyamine concentration is also observed after the first cleavage, and egg cleavage occurs at decreasing phase of polyamine concentrations.