Molecular Mechanisms of Resistance to 5-Fluorocytosine in Laboratory Mutants of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Candida glabrata</Emphasis>

Resistance to 5-fluorocytosine (5-FC) has been poorly investigated in the yeast Candida glabrata. This study was conducted on laboratory mutants obtained by exposure of a wild-type isolate to 5-FC. Based on their susceptibility to 5-fluorouracil (5-FU), two of these mutants were selected for further analysis of the molecular mechanisms of 5-FC resistance. One mutant, resistant to both compounds, exhibited a missense mutation in the gene coding the cytosine deaminase and a decrease in the expression level of the gene coding the uridine monophosphate pyrophosphorylase. The other mutant that showed a reduced susceptibility to 5-FC and 5-FU exhibited an overexpression of the genes coding the thymidylate synthase and a cytosine permease, associated with a missense mutation in the last gene. Thus, beside mutations in the FUR1 gene which represent the most common cause of resistance to 5-FC, other mechanisms may also occur in C. glabrata.     

The FUR1 gene of Saccharomyces cerevisiae: cloning, structure and expression of wild-type and mutant alleles

The FUR1 gene of Saccharomyces cerevisiae encodes uracil phosphoribosyltransferase (UPRTase) which catalyses the conversion of uracil into uridine 5'-monophosphate (UMP) in the pyrimidine salvage pathway. The FUR1 gene is included in a 2.1 kb genomic segment of DNA and is transcribed into a 1 kb poly(A)+mRNA. Sequencing has determined a 753 bp open reading frame capable of encoding a protein of 251 amino acids. The FUR1 genes for three recessive fur1 alleles, having different sensibilities to 5-fluorouridine (5-FUR) but identical levels of resistance to 5-fluorouracil (5-FU), were cloned and sequenced. Single bp changes located in different regions of the gene were found in each mutant. Two in vitro-constructed deletions of the FUR1 gene have been integrated at the chromosomal locus, giving strains with 5-FURR and 5-FURR mutant phenotype. Assays of UPRTase, uridine kinase, uridine ribohydrolase and uridine 5'-monophosphate nucleotidase enzymatic activities, in extracts of strains where the FUR1 gene is overexpressed or deleted, indicate that the FUR1 encoded protein possesses only UPRTase activity.     

Pyrimidine biosynthesis in Aspergillus nidulans. Isolation and characterisation of mutants resistant to fluoropyrimidines.

Summary Mutants resistant to 5-fluorouracil, 5-fluorouridine and 5-fluorodeoxyuridine have been selected in Aspergillus nidulans. Growth tests combined with genetic analysis showed that mutations conferring resistance to fluoropyrimidines could occur in at least seven genes. Three of these, fulE, fulF and furA were concerned with either the uptake of pyrimidines or their conversion to uridine monophosphate. The other four genes did not affect these functions. Mutations in fulA probably confer resistance by lowering ornithine transcarbamoylase, thereby making the normally arginine-specific carbamoyl phosphate pool available for increased uracil synthesis. Mutations in fulD may make the arginine-specific carbamoyl phosphate synthetase insensitive to inhibition or repression by arginine, and so lead to increased carbamoyl phosphate pool sizes, and increased uracil synthesis. Both fulA and fulD mutants suppress pyrA mutants which lack the uracil-specific carbamoyl phosphate synthetase. Mutations in fulB and fulC do not suppress pyrA, and so may act more directly to increase uracil synthesis. The synthesis of aspartate carbamoyl transferase in fulB7 strains is not repressed by uracil. fulC mutants are closely linked to the pyrA, B, C, N region which codes for the first two enzymes of pyrimidine biosynthesis, and may result in these enzymes being less sensitive to inhibition by uracil.Abbreviations used 5FU 5-fluorouracil - 5FUR 5-fluorouridine - 5FdUR 5-fluorodeoxyuridine     

5-Fluoropyrimidine-resistant mutants of pneumococcus

Three classes of 5-fluorpyrimidine-resistant mutants of Diplococcus pneumoniae have been characterized. The mutant strain upp is resistant to high concentrations of the fluoropyrimidine bases fluorouracil (FU) and fluorocytosine (FC); strain upp has a defective uridine monophosphate pyrophosphorylase. The mutant strain udk is resistant to inhibition by fluorouridine (FUR) and exhibits defective uridine kinase activity. The mutant strain fun is resistant to inhibition by the nucleosides fluorodeoxyuridine, fluorodeoxycytidine, and FUR, but shows normal activity for all pyrimidine pathway enzymes tested. This strain may be defective in the activity of a transport system that governs the cellular uptake of pyrimidine ribo- and deoxyribonucleosides. Biochemical studies on wild-type and fluoropyrimidine-resistant pneumococci are discussed with respect to the transport and early metabolism of preformed pyrimidine precursors by this organism.     

Elevated uridine nucleotide pools in fluorouracil/fluorouridine resistant mutants ofNocardia lactamdurans

Summary Selection of spontaneous mutants ofNocardia lactamdurans MA2908 for resistance to 5-fluorouracil results in the simultaneous development of resistance to 5-fluorouridine. The resulting mutants fall into four distinct classes based on the amount of uracil accumulating in fermentation broths. An additional characteristic of these mutants is a reduction in the ability to incorporate exogenous uracil into nucleic acids even though transport and conversion to the nucleotide level appears normal. Finally, production of efrotomycin is increased in these mutants in both chemically defined and complex fermentation media to levels equivalent to those of MA4820, the first productivity mutant isolated in a conventional strain improvement program. Resistance development and uracil excretion are adequately explained by an elevation of the intracellular uridine nucleotide pool, in particular UMP. The role of the uridine necleotides in the efrotomycin fermentation is unknown.     

Uridine kinase activities and pyrimidine nucleoside phosphorylation in fluoropyrimidine-sensitive and -resistant cell lines of the Novikoff hepatoma.

Uridine kinase, the rate-limiting enzyme in the activation (phosphorylation) of uridine and the corresponding chemotherapeutic analogues, is present as two isoenzymes localized exclusively in the cytosol of rapidly growing neoplasms, including the S-37 sarcoma, EL-4 leukaemia, HeLa cells (a human carcinoma) and the Novikoff hepatoma. The activities of the isolated isoenzymes are markedly decreased when the concentrations of ATP, phosphate or Mg2+ that are optimum in vitro are replaced by concentrations of ATP, phosphate or Mg2+ that are optimum in vitro are replaced by concentrations approximating to those found in vivo. Further, comparisons of the Km values of isolated uridine kinases with those for cellular uptake of pyrimidine nucleosides and their rate of intracellular phosphorylation suggest that nucleoside-transport systems play a rate-limiting role in nucleoside analogue activation and consequently that it is impossible to estimate the Km of uridine kinase in the intact cell. During the development of tumour-cell resistance to 5-fluorouracil or 5-fluorouridine in vivo there was an early differential increase in the activity of a low-affinity (high-Km) uridine kinase isoenzyme, as measured in cell extracts, and a 7-fold increase in the Km values for the uptake of both uridine and 5-fluorouridine into the intact resistant cells.     

Isolation and Partial Characterization of Regulatory Mutants of the Pyrimidine Pathway in Salmonella typhimurium

Mutants of Salmonella typhimurium affected in the regulation of pyrimidine biosynthesis were isolated by two methods. The first involved screening for bacteria able to feed a pyrimidine-requiring indicator strain, and the second involved selection for bacteria simultaneously resistant to two pyrimidine analogues, 5-fluorouracil and 5-fluorouridine, in a S. typhimurium strain unable to degrade 5-fluorouridine. Among the mutants isolated by these methods are constitutive mutants, producing high levels of pyrimidine biosynthetic enzymes in the presence or absence of pyrimidines, and feedback modified mutants, in which aspartate transcarbamylase is partially desensitized to its inhibitor, cytidine triphosphate. No fully desensitized mutant has been found. The partially desensitized character cotransduces with the pyrB locus, that of aspartate transcarbamylase. The constitutive character has been determined in a few cases to be localized in the region of leu and pro on the Salmonella map.     

Mutants of Escherichia coli unable to metabolize cytidine: isolation and characterization

Summary Strains of Escherichia coli have been selected, which contain mutations in the udk gene, encoding uridine kinase. The gene has been located on the chromosome as cotransducible with the his gene and shown to be responsible for both uridine and cytidine kinase activities in the cell.An additional mutation in the cdd gene (encoding cytidine deaminase) has been introduced, thus rendering the cells unable to metabolize cytidine. In these mutants exogenously added cytidine acts as inducer of nucleoside catabolizing enzymes indicating that cytidine per se is the actual inducer.When the udk, cdd mutants are grown on minimal medium the enzyme levels are considerably higher than in wild type cells. Evidence is presented indicating that the high levels are due to intracellular accumulation of cytidine, which acts as endogenous inducer.Abbreviations and Symbols FU 5-fluorouracil - FUR 5-fluorouridine - FUdR 5-fluoro-2'deoxyuridine - FCR 5-fluorocytidine - FCdR 5-fluorodeoxycytidine - THUR 3, 4, 5, 6-tetrahydrouridine - UMP uridine monophosphate - CMP cytidine monophosphate - dUMP deoxyuridine monophosphate. Genes coding for: cytidine deaminase - edd uridine phosphorylase - udp thymidine phosphorylase - tpp purmnucleoside phosphorylase - pup uridine kinase (=cytidine kinase) - udk UMP-pyrophosphorylase - upp. CytR regulatory gene for cdd, udp, dra, tpp, drm and pup Enzymes EC 2.4.2.1 Purine nucleoside phosphorylase or purine nucleoside: orthophosphate (deoxy)-ribosyltransferase - EC 2.4.2.4 thymidine phosphorylase or thymidine: orthophosphate deoxyribosyltransferase - EC 2.4.2.3 uridine phosphorylase or uridine: orthophosphate ribosyltransferase - EC 3.5.4.5 cytidine deaminase or (deoxy)cytidine aminohydrolase - EC 4.1.2.4 deoxyriboaldolase or 2-deoxy-D-ribose-5-phosphate: acetaldehydelyase - EC 2.4.2.9 UMP-pyrophosphorylase or UMP: pyrophosphate phosphoribosyltransferase - EC 2.7.1.48 uridine kinase or ATP: uridine 5-phosphotransferase     

Uptake of pyrimidines and their derivatives into Candida glabrata and Candida albicans

The uptake of pyrimidines and their derivatives into Candida glabrata and Candida albicans was measured using a novel technique in which the cells were rapidly separated from their suspending medium by centrifugation through a layer of an inert oil. The uptake of [14C]cytosine was linear for 30 s for all concentrations of pyrimidine tested. In C. glabrata but not C. albicans cytosine transport was mediated by both a high affinity (Km 0.8 +/- 0.1 microM), low capacity [V 40 +/- 4 pmol (microliters cell water)-1 s-1] and a low affinity [Km 240 +/- 35 microM], high capacity system [V 770 +/- 170 pmol (microliters cell water)-1 s-1]. The cytosine permease in C. glabrata was specific for cytosine and 5-fluorocytosine. In C. albicans there was only one cytosine transport system [Km 2.4 +/- 0.3 microM; V 50 +/- 4 pmol (microliters cell water)-1 s-1]; this system also transported adenine, guanine and hypoxanthine. Differences in nucleoside transport were also observed for C. glabrata and C. albicans, with the uridine permease in C. glabrata transporting only uridine and 5-fluorouridine whereas cytidine and adenosine were also transported by the uridine permease in C. albicans. Studies on the effect of nucleoside analogues on uridine transport in C. glabrata demonstrated the importance of the sugar moiety in determining the specificity of transport, with a hydroxyl residue on C-2 being apparently essential for transport.     

Isolation and mapping of fluoropyrimidine-resistant mutants of Neurospora crassa

Summary Growth characteristics of wild type Neurospora crassa on 5-fluorouracil, 5-fluorouridine and 5-fluorodeoxyuridine and methods for selecting mutants resistant to these pyrimidine analogues are described. The mutants are mapped and characterized for resistance to the analogues. Some mutants are found to be allelic with the previously described ud-1 (fdu-1) ad uc-4 genes.Supported by S.R.C. grant GR/A/64655F. Buxton was supported during the period of this work by an S.R.C. Research Studentship     

Tolerance of 5-fluorodeoxyuridine resistant human thymidylate synthases to alterations in active site residues.

Fluoropyrimidines, such as 5-fluorouracil (5-FU), are used extensively in cancer therapy. In the cell, 5-FU is metabolized to 5-fluorodeoxyuridylate (5-FdUMP), a tight binding covalent inhibitor of thymidylate synthase (TS). In order to create 5-FdUMP resistant enzymes to protect chemosensitive normal cells and further understand mechanisms of 5-FdUMP resistance, we have randomized four residues within the active site of TS. Our previous studies identified alterations in residues which produce active TS with enhanced resistance to 5-fluorouridine (5-FdUR). By remutagenizing a subset of the 13 previously targeted residues (A197, L198, C199 and V204), an unbiased random library can be created allowing for extensive testing of all possible amino acid substitutions at each of the sites. Using genetic complementation and selection in Escherichia coli, we identified the spectrum of substitutions that yield active TS as well as those that resulted in 5-FdUR resistant mutants of TS. The 5-FdUR resistant TS were found to share several structural features including hydrophobic substitutions at residue 197, retention of the wild-type leucine 198, the alteration C199L (present in 64% of the drug-resistant library), and polar alterations of valine 204. The catalytic activity of mutants with these features was approximately equal to that of the wild-type TS.     

Specific incorporation of 5-fluorocytidine into Escherichia coli RNA

RNAs isolated from Escherichia coli B grown in the presence of 5-fluorouracil have high levels of the analog replacing uridine and uridine-derived modified nucleosides. Cytidine has also been shown to be replaced in these RNAs by 5-fluorocytidine, a metabolic product of 5-fluorouracil, but to a considerably lesser extent. When 5-fluorocytidine is added to cultured of E. coli B little 5-fluorocytidine (0.20 mol%) is incorporated into cellular RNAs because of the active cytosine/cytidine deaminase activities. Addition of the cytidine deaminase inhibitor tetrahydrouridine (70 micrograms/ml) increases 5-fluorocytidine incorporation to about 3 mol% in tRNAs, but does not eliminate 5-fluorouridine incorporation. E. coli mutants lacking cytosine/cytidine deaminase activities are able to more than double the extent of 5-fluorocytidine incorporation into their transfer and ribosomal RNAs, replacing cytidine with no detectable 5-fluorouridine incorporation. Levels of 5-methyluridine, pseudouridine and dihydrouridine in tRNAs are not affected. These fluorocytidine-containing tRNAs show amino acid-accepting activities similar to control tRNAs. Fluorocytidine was found to be quite susceptible to deamination under alkaline conditions. Its conversion to primarily 5-fluorouridine follows pseudo-first-order reaction kinetics with a half-life of 10 h in 0.3 M KOH at 37 degrees C. This instability in alkali probably explains why 5-fluorocytidine was not found earlier in RNAs isolated from cells treated with 5-fluorouridine, since most early RNA hydrolyses were carried out in alkali. It may also explain the mild mutagenic properties observed in some systems following 5-fluorouridine treatment. Initial 19F-NMR measurements in fluorocytidine-containing tRNAs indicate that this modified tRNA may be useful in future structural studies of tRNAs and in probing tRNA-protein complexes.     

Metabolism of pyrimidine bases and nucleosides by Pseudomonas fluorescens biotype F

Pyrimidine metabolism in Pseudomonas fluorescens biotype F, and its ability to grow in liquid culture on pyrimidines and related compounds was investigated. It was found that uracil, uridine, cytosine, cytidine, deoxycytidine, dihydrouracil, dihydrothymine, beta-alanine or beta-aminoisobutyric acid could be utilized by this pseudomonad as a sole nitrogen source. Only uridine, cytidine, beta-alanine, beta-aminoisobutyric acid or ribose were capable of supporting its growth as a sole source of carbon. In solid medium, the pyrimidine analogue 5-fluorouracil or 5-fluorouridine could prevent P. fluorescens biotype F growth at a low concentration while a 20-fold higher concentration of 5-fluorocytosine, 5-fluorodeoxyuridine or 6-azauracil was necessary to block its growth. The pyrimidine salvage enzymes cytosine deaminase, nucleoside hydrolase, uridine phosphorylase, thymidine phosphorylase and cytidine deaminase were assayed. Only cytosine deaminase and nucleoside hydrolase activities could be detected under the assay conditions used. The effect of growth conditions on cytosine deaminase and nucleoside hydrolase levels in the micro-organism was explored. Cytosine deaminase activity was shown to increase if glycerol was substituted for glucose as the sole carbon source or if asparagine replaced (NH4)2SO4 as the sole nitrogen source in each respective medium. In contrast, nucleoside hydrolase activity remained virtually unchanged whether the carbon source in the medium was glucose or glycerol. A decrease in nucleoside hydrolase activity was witnessed when asparagine was present in the medium instead of (NH4)2SO4 as the sole source of nitrogen.     

Resistance to pyrazofurin and 6-azauridine in normal MC3T3-E1 murine osteoblasts

Stable variants resistant to pyrazofurin (PF) and 6-azauridine (AZUrd) were serially selected in increasing drug concentrations from an MC3T3-E1 nontumorigenic murine osteoblastic cell line. Monophosphates of both AZUrd and PF competitively inhibit orotidine-5'-monophosphate decarboxylase (ODCase) activity of the UMP synthase multifunctional enzyme. When compared to the wild type cells, the AZUrdr and PFr lines were 3000- and 10,000-fold more resistant, respectively. Flow cytometry indicated tetraploidy in wild type cells and a reduction of DNA content in both resistant cell lines. DNA dot blot analysis showed no amplification of the gene coding for UMP synthase in either AZUrdr or PFr cells. Measurements of UMP synthase showed a 6-fold higher activity in AZUrdr cells and no significant difference in PFr cells as compared to wild type. Sensitivity to 5-fluorouracil was increased in the AZUrdr line as opposed to PFr and normal cell lines, indicating an increased orotate phosphoribosyltransferase activity in the AZUrdr cells. In comparison to wild type cells, PFr cells were 100-fold resistant to 6-methylmercaptopurine riboside, suggesting a lack of adenosine kinase activity. The control and AZUrdr cells showed equal sensitivity to 5-fluorouridine, thus indicating unchanged uridine kinase levels. While PFr cells were not cross-resistant to AZUrd, the AZUrdr cells were cross-resistant to PF. These results indicate the possibility of an altered ODCase active site. Although amplification of unrelated sequences cannot be excluded, our findings show that bone tetraploid, nontumorigenic cells acquire drug resistance through mechanisms other than the amplification of a target gene and that this resistance is accompanied by the partial loss of a chromosomal complement.     

A member of the second carbohydrate uptake subfamily of ATP-binding cassette transporters is responsible for ribonucleoside uptake in Streptococcus mutans

Streptococcus mutans has a significant number of transporters of the ATP-binding cassette (ABC) superfamily. Members of this superfamily are involved in the translocation of a diverse range of molecules across membranes. However, the functions of many of these members remain unknown. We have investigated the role of the single S. mutans representative of the second subfamily of carbohydrate uptake transporters (CUT2) of the ABC superfamily. The genetic context of genes encoding this transporter indicates that it may have a role in ribonucleoside scavenging. Inactivation of rnsA (ATPase) or rnsB (solute binding protein) resulted in strains resistant to 5-fluorocytidine and 5-fluorouridine (toxic ribonucleoside analogues). As other ribonucleosides including cytidine, uridine, adenosine, 2-deoxyuridine, and 2-deoxycytidine protected S. mutans from 5-fluorocytidine and 5-fluorouridine toxicity, it is likely that this transporter is involved in the uptake of these molecules. Indeed, the rnsA and rnsB mutants were unable to transport [2-(14)C]cytidine or [2-(14)C]uridine and had significantly reduced [8-(14)C]adenosine uptake rates. Characterization of this transporter in wild-type S. mutans indicates that it is a high-affinity (K(m) = 1 to 2 muM) transporter of cytidine, uridine, and adenosine. The inhibition of [(14)C]cytidine uptake by a range of structurally related molecules indicates that the CUT2 transporter is involved in the uptake of most ribonucleosides, including 2-deoxyribonucleosides, but not ribose or nucleobases. The characterization of this permease has directly shown for the first time that an ABC transporter is involved in the uptake of ribonucleosides and extends the range of substrates known to be transported by members of the ABC transporter superfamily.     

Biochemical and genetic basis of the response to 5-fluorouracil in Drosophila melanogaster

Mutant strains sensitive and resistant to the drug 5-fluorouracil (FU) have been isolated from the wild-type Pac strain of Drosophila melanogaster. The resistant strain, termed flu^r, is resistant to at least 0.0035%FU (2.7 × 10^–4 m) in the food media and exhibits cross-resistance to 5-fluorodeoxyuridine (FUdR) but not to 5-fluorouridine (FUR). The sensitive strain termed flu ^S , exhibits over 90% mortality on 0.0008% FU (6 × 10^–5 m). Genetic analysis indicates that the flu gene is located on the third chromosome, which agrees with results of previous workers. An analysis of the enzyme thymidylate synthetase from the selected sensitive and resistant strains indicates that the resistant strain enzyme possesses an elevated specific activity. Levels 4 times that of the sensitive strain were observed when the enzymes were assayed at 20 C. This increase is apparently not due to induction by FU in the food media. It is suggested that the enzyme thymidylate synthetase may be involved in the resistance process.     

Biochemical phenotype of 5-fluorouracil-resistant murine T-lymphoblasts with genetically altered CTP synthetase activity

From wild type mouse lymphoma cells, a clone, (FURT-1A), was isolated by virtue of its resistance to 1 microM 5-fluorouracil and 10 microM thymidine. In comparative growth rate experiments, FURT-1A cells were also less sensitive than parental cells to the growth inhibitory effects of thymidine, deoxyguanosine, 5-fluorouridine, and arabinosylcytosine. The altered growth sensitivity of FURT-1A cells to cytotoxic nucleosides was directly related to their decreased ability to accumulate the corresponding triphosphate from exogenous nucleoside. FURT-1A cells contained elevated cytidylate nucleotide pools which prevented normal growth sensitivity and interfered with the salvage of nucleosides by inhibiting nucleoside kinase activities, by stimulating nucleotide dephosphorylating activities, and by overcoming certain allosteric inhibitions imposed on ribonucleotide reductase. Metabolic flux experiments with [3H]uridine in situ indicated that FURT-1A cells had a 2-fold enhanced rate of conversion of UTP to CTP. Kinetic analyses indicated that the CTP synthetase activity in extracts of FURT-1A cells was refractory to inhibition by CTP. The genetic loss of normal allosteric inhibition of the CTP synthetase activity in FURT-1A cells could account for the unusual phenotypic properties of these cells and conferred a high spontaneous mutator phenotype to cells possessing this mutation.     

Apparent involvement of purines in the control of expression of Salmonella typhimurium pyr genes: analysis of a leaky guaB mutant resistant to pyrimidine analogs.

A leaky guaB mutant of Salmonella typhimurium LT-2 was obtained during a selection for mutants resistant to a combination of the two pyrimidine analogs, 5-fluorouracil and 5-fluorouridine. In the absence of exogenous guanine compounds, the growth rate of this mutant is limited by the endogenous supply of guanine nucleotides due to a defective inosine 5'-monophosphate dehydrogenase. Under these conditions the guanosine 5'-triphosphate pool is about 20% of normal, the cytidine 5'-triphosphate pool is reduced to below 60%, and the uridine 5'-triphosphate pool is slightly elevated. Simultaneously, levels of the pyrimidine biosynthetic enzymes are abnormal: aspartate transcarbamylase, orotate phosphoribosyltransferase, and orotidylic acid decarboxylase levels are increased 4-, 11-, and 3-fold, respectively. Levels of dihydroorotase and dihydroorotate dehydrogenase are decreased to 10 and 20%, respectively. The pyrimidine metabolism of the guaB mutant is restored completely by addition of guanine (or xanthine) to the growth medium. The data indicate purine nucleotide involvement in the regulation of expression of the pyr genes of S. typhimurium.     

Mutants of yeast specifically resistant to petite induction by fluorinated pyrimidines

Induction of the cytoplasmic petite mutation in yeast by 5-fluorouracil (5FU) and 5-fluorocytosine (5FC) is known to depend on the incorporation of 5FU into some species of RNA; 5FC is active only following deamination to 5FU. Several mutants have now been isolated which are resistant to petite mutagenesis by 5FU but remain sensitive to growth inhibition by this analogue. They fall into two classes: those in class I are also resistant to mutagenesis by 5FC, while class II mutants retain partial sensitivity to the latter agent. The growth of both classes is sensitive to 5FC. The behavior of class II mutants requires that exogenous 5FU is specifically excluded from the site of synthesis of the target RNA involved in petite mutagenesis, while 5FC has access to it. The most likely explanation is that the RNA concerned is synthesized in the mitochondria, and that the mitochondrial membranes of class II mutants are impermeable to 5FU but not 5FC. This is supported by the finding that the membrane-active agent dimethylsulfoxide restored 5FU sensitivity to this class of mutants. No such effect was observed with class I mutants, and these are thought to have altered mitochondrial RNA-synthesizing systems which are unable to recognize fluorinated nucleotides.During the course of this work, S. G. O. was supported by a Medical Research Council Scholarship.