Effects of 3′-deoxyadenosine triphosphate on in vitro RNA synthesis of plant RNA-dependent RNA polymerases

3′-deoxyadenosine triphosphate inhibited $\text{in}\text{vitro}$ [³H]UMP incorporation by RNA-dependent RNA polymerases from tobacco and cowpea plants. The inhibition of [³H]UMP incorporation could be reversed by simultaneous addition of higher ATP concentrations but not with increasing concentrations of UTP or when excess ATP was added 10 min after the inhibitor. These results suggest 3′-deoxyadenosine triphosphate competes specifically with ATP in reaction mixtures and results in premature termination of RNA synthesis $\text{in}\text{vitro}$ by RNA-dependent RNA polymerase.     

Effect of cordycepin triphosphate on in vitro RNA synthesis by plant viral replicases

In vitro RNA synthesis by tobacco mosaic virus and cowpea chlorotic mottle virus replicase were inhibited by cordycepin triphosphate. Inhibition could be overcome with higher concentrations of ATP in assay mixtures but not with UTP. Products synthesized in vitro by tobacco mosaic virus RNA replicase in the presence of inhibitor revealed replicative form but not replicative intermediate RNAs. These results suggest that cordycepin triphosphate competes specifically with ATP and results in premature termination of viral RNA synthesis in vitro.     

Vaccinia virus poly(A) polymerase. Specificity for nucleotides and nucleotide analogs

We have studied the nucleotide specificity of vaccinia virus poly(A) polymerase using a novel primer extension assay. Oligoribonucleotide primers labeled at the 5' end with 32P were elongated by the enzyme in the presence of ATP, leading to the 3' addition of greater than 1000 adenylate residues/primer molecule. In the presence of UTP, the enzyme catalyzed 3' polymerization of long poly(U) tails, albeit at a reduced rate of chain growth. In the presence of both ATP and UTP, 3' addition was selective for ATP. The transient accumulation of RNAs elongated by 10-16 residues suggested that polyadenylation (and polyuridylation) was a biphasic reaction. Quantitative 3' addition of GMP (from GTP) or CMP (from CTP) to the primer was also observed, although the rate of chain growth was so slow as to allow synthesis of only short oligo(G) or oligo(C) tails. The deoxynucleotides 3'-dATP (cordycepin triphosphate) and ddATP were markedly inhibitory to poly(A) polymerase. Primer elongation studies were consistent with inhibition due to 3' incorporation of inhibitor and chain termination. Incubation of enzyme with [alpha-32P] cordycepin triphosphate resulted in labeling of the Mr 57,000 enzyme subunit, apparently via formation of a covalent nucleotidyl-protein complex. These data are discussed in light of their implications for the catalytic mechanism of polyadenylation.     

Differential effects of cordycepin triphosphate and 9 beta-D-arabinofuranosyladenine triphosphate on tRNA and 5 S RNA synthesis in isolated nuclei.

Although cordycepin 5'-triphosphate (3'-dATP), at low concentrations, preferentially inhibits chromatin-associated poly(A) synthesis in isolated nuclei, higher levels of the inhibitor prevent both rRNA (RNA polymerase I activity) and hnRNA (RNA polymerase II activity) synthesis in vitro (Rose, K.M., Bell, L.E. and Jacob, S.T. (1977) Nature 267, 178-180). The present studies demonstrate that this nucleotide can also inhibit tRNA and 5 S RNA synthesis (RNA polymerase III activity). At 50-200 microgram/ml, 3'-dATP inhibits incorporation of [3H]UTP into tRNA and 5 S RNA by approximately 65%, whereas the syntheses of these RNAs were completely blocked when [3H]GTP was used as the substrate. These data suggest the formation of poly(U) in the tRNA and 5 S RNA regions, which is resistant to 3'-dATP. In contrast, another ATP analog, Ara-ATP, which selectively inhibits poly(A) synthesis, does not block tRNA and 5 S RNA synthesis in isolated nuclei. The production of these RNA species in isolated nuclei is also insensitive to Ara-CTP and 2'-dATP. These data suggest that 3'-dATP exerts general inhibitory effects on RNA synthesis and further substantiate the conclusion that Ara-ATP is a selective inhibitor of the polyadenylation reaction in vitro.     

Mode of enhancement in ribonucleic acid synthesis directed by chromium (III)-bound deoxyribonucleic acid

By forming a complex with calf thymus DNA, Cr(III), i.e., CrCl3 and Cr(NO3)3, significantly enhanced its template activity for in vitro RNA synthesis as assayed by 3H incorporation from [5-3H]uridine triphosphate (UTP). The extent of the augmentation in RNA synthesis was proportional to the binding ratio of Cr(III) to the template DNA. K2CrO4, on the other hand, neither bound to DNA nor enhanced its template activity. Experiments using rifampicin and heparin suggested that incorrect and nonviable initiation sites for RNA synthesis became functional in Cr(III)-bound DNA. The incorporation of [gamma-32P]adenosine triphosphate (ATP) into RNA synthesized on Cr(III)-bound DNA was 8 to 9 times greater than that on control DNA. This value was much higher than that of the 3H incorporation form [5-3H]UTP, i.e., the incorporation of 32P on Cr(III) bound DNA was 8 to 9 times greater that of 3H and less than twice that on control DNA. These results suggest that Cr(III) possibly induces the abnormal synthesis of RNA of a very low molecular weight, for most if not all the molecules, by binding to the template DNA.     

Errors from using 3H-labeled ribonucleoside triphosphates to monitor nuclear RNA synthesis in vitro

The [3H]XTPs are used widely to monitor RNA synthesis in vitro. Recently, we discovered that they reflected only 40-45% of the true rate of nuclear RNA synthesis. Thus, when [8-14C]GTP was used, 1466 pmol [8-14C]GMP was incorporated per mg DNA/10 min. On the other hand, when [8-3H]GTP was used, only 564 pmol [8-3H]GMP was incorporated per mg DNA/10 min. There are three obvious factors that could have contributed to this greater than 2-fold difference in the apparent incorporation rate: commercial [8-3H]GTP sample was contaminated with substances causing the assay medium to be less efficient in RNA synthesis; 3H exchange occurred during acid washing of the [3H]RNA; and there was a greater quenching effect on [3H]RNA. Experiments were designed to test each of these alternatives. We are able to conclude that none of the above three are contributing factors. Our data also show that the 3H label was removed after it was incorporated into RNA. Similar differences were observed when 3H and 14C labeled pairs of ATP, UTP and CTP were compared. Furthermore, when nuclei were fractionated into nucleolar and nucleoplasmic fractions and carried out RNA synthesis, the loss of 3H label was observed mainly from the nucleoplasmic fraction.     

Effects of cordycepin on the synthesis of nuclear and cytoplasmic RNAs in embryonic cells of Xenopus laevis

Effects of cordycepin on the incorporation of [3H] guanosine into embryonic Xenopus cells were examined. Cordycepin inhibited the labeling not only of poly(A) + RNA, but of all the other major classes of RNAs. Cellular fractionation showed that this inhibition was much stronger in the labeling of cytoplasmic RNAs than of nuclear RNAs. [3H]Cordycepin was incorporated into both poly(A) + RNA and other RNA species.     

Effect of cordycepin (3''-deoxyadenosine) on virus-specific RNA species synthesized in Newcastle disease virus-infected cells.

Cordycepin (3'-deoxyadenosine) has no effect on the size or relative proportions of Newcastle disease virus-specific 18-22S mRNA species nor on the amount or size of the polyadenylic acid associated with them. Cordycepin does, however, cause an inhibition of incorporation of [3H]uridine into 50S virus-specific RNA relative to 18-22S RNA. This inhibition is probably not a direct effect of the drug on the synthesis of 50S viral RNA. Like cycloheximide, another drug which inhibits 50S RNA accumulation in paramyxovirus-infected cells, cordycepin inhibits protein synthesis as measured by amino acid incorporation. It is likely that the inhibition of 50S RNA accumulation is a secondary effect of protein synthesis inhibition. This is supported by the finding that concentrations of cordycepin and cycloheximide, which inhibit protein synthesis to the same extent, have the same effect on the ratio of 50 to 18-22S virus-specific RNA.     

An active-site-directed adenosine triphosphate analogue binds to the beta-subunits of factor F1 mitochondrial adenosine triphosphatase with its triphosphate moiety.

The reaction of the mixed anhydride of [3H]ATP and mesitylenecarboxylic acid and soluble mitochondrial adenosine triphosphatase is accompanied by the covalent binding of one molecule of the inhibitor to a molecule of the enzyme and results in the inhibition of adenosine triphosphatase activity by more than 90%. The electrophoresis of adenosine triphosphatase modified by reaction with the mixed anhydride of [3H]ATP and mesitylenecarboxylic acid in polyacrylamide gel in the presence of sodium dodecyl sulphate showed that the inhibitor is bound to the beta-subunit of the enzyme. The results suggest that ATP may also bind to the beta-subunit of the adenosine triphosphatase with its triphosphate moiety.     

THE EFFECT OF CORDYCEPIN ON THE APPEARANCE OF [3H]RNA IN THE GOLDFISH OPTIC TECTUM FOLLOWING INTRAOCULAR INJECTION OF [3H]URIDINE

Abstract— Although biochemical and electron microscopic evidence has shown that RNA molecules may be found within axons, the origin of this RNA is not known. In order to determine if the RNA found in axons is synthesized in the nerve cell body and axonally transported, we have studied the effect of the RNA inhibitor cordycepin (3′-deoxyadenosine) on the retinal synthesis and axonal migration of radioactive RNA. Ten μg of cordycepin was injected into the right eye of 11 fish and 3 h later [³H]uridine was injected into the same eye. Twelve control fish were injected with [³H]uridine only and all fish were sacrificed 6 days later. Results of RNA extraction of retina and tecta showed that cordycepin decreased retinal RNA synthesis by approx 24%, while inhibiting the amount of [³H]RNA appearing in the contralateral tectum by 74%. Since the transport of RNA precursors was depressed by only 50%, (significantly different from the effect on RNA, P < 0.01) it seems unlikely that the action of cordycepin in decreasing tectal [³H]RNA levels was due solely to a decrease in the availability of labeled precursors for tectal RNA synthesis. For the purpose of blocking tectal RNA synthesis, 200 μg of cordycepin was injected intracranially several days after the intraocular injection of [³H]uridine. This route of cordycepin administration failed to significantly block the appearance of [³H]RNA in the tectum, suggesting that at least some of the [³H]RNA in the tectum was synthesized before arrival in the tectum itself. To be sure that cordycepin itself was not being transported, we injected cordycepin into the right eye of fish and 5 days later, injected fish intracranially with [³H]uridine. Autoradiograms were prepared and grains were counted over the fiber layers of left (experimental) and right (control) tecta. No significant difference was observed in the number of grains of left vs right tecta indicating that cordycepin itself is not axonally transported. These experiments support earlier findings from our laboratory which suggest that RNA may be axonally transported in goldfish optic fibers.     

Effect of streptovaricin on the incorporation of uridine into cellular and viral RNA.

Poxvirus replication is inhibited by streptovaricin. The most readily observed effect is the inhibition of incorporation of [3H]uridine into viral mRNA, suggesting an inhibition of RNA synthesis. Streptovaricin also inhibits the incorporation of [3H]uridine into cellular RNA but not as severely as viral RNA. On the other hand, [3H]uridine incorporation into the RNA of Semliki Forest virus (SFV), which contains a positive strand RNA genome, does not seem to be inhibited by streptovaricin. The inhibitory effect of streptovaricin is completely reversible after removal of the inhibitor. In addition to inhibiting RNA synthesis, streptovaricin also may inhibit the methylation of cellular RNA. Viral RNA is stable in the presence of streptovaricin.     

Calcium-dependent inhibition of protein synthesis in rat parotid gland.

1. Protein synthesis in the rat parotid gland in vitro was studied by measuring the incorporation of [3H]phenylalanine into trichloroacetic acid-insoluble proteins. In the unstimulated gland, the rate of incorporation was dependent on the phenylalanine concentration in the medium and proceeded linearly for up to 3h. 2. Adrenaline, carbamoylcholine, phenylephrine and ionophore A23187 inhibited the incorporation of [3H]phenylalanine into acid-insoluble protein; isoprenaline, dibutyryl cyclic AMP and 8-bromo-cyclic GMP were inactive. 3. Inhibition by adrenaline and carbamoylcholine but not by ionophore A23187 required extracellular Ca2+. 4. Both adrenaline and carbamoylcholine increased the magnitude of the acid-soluble [3H]phenylalanine pool at 10 micrometer extracellular phenylalanine, but had no effect if the phenylalanine concentration was increased to 200 micrometer. 5. There was no correlation between cellular ATP content and the observed inhibition of protein synthesis. 6. Our results suggest that both alpha-adrenergic and cholinergic receptors may play a role in the regulation of protein synthesis in the rat parotid gland, and that their effects are mediated by a rise in intracellular free Ca2+.     

Mechanism of Apparent Transcription Inhibition by Methyl Mercury in Cerebellar Neurons

Abstract: We have investigated the mechanism of inhibition of RNA synthesis by methyl mercury (MeHg) in isolated neonatal rat cerebellar cells. Each of the three component steps involved in the incorporation of exogenous [³H]uridine into cellular RNA was examined separately in whole-cell and/or subcellular preparations. Nuclear RNA polymerase activity was measured in preparations containing both free nuclei and whole cells. Incorporation of [³H]UTP into nuclear RNA was found to be unimpaired at concentrations of MeHg that inhibited whole-cell incorporation of [³H]uridine by > 75%. Cellular uptake of [³H]uridine was assayed in cerebellar cells treated with KCN to deplete ATP levels and block subsequent phosphorylation reactions of transported uridine. Uptake activity under these conditions was unaffected by MeHg. Measurement of intracellular phosphorylation of [³H]uridine indicated that inhibition of this activity closely paralleled that of RNA synthesis. Quantitation of individual uridine nucleotides by polyethyleneimine-cellulose TLC revealed reduced levels of UTP and UDP whereas levels of UMP were elevated, suggesting that impairment of phosphorylation was not the result of cellular ATP depletion but, more likely, a direct effect on phosphouridine kinase enzymes. This mechanism of MeHg-induced inhibition of RNA synthesis was confirmed by assays of uridine phosphorylation using cell-free extracts in which exogenous ATP was supplied.     

Mechanism of cyclic GMP inhibition of inositol phosphate formation in rat aorta segments and cultured bovine aortic smooth muscle cells

In order to clarify the mechanism(s) by which cyclic GMP inhibits the generation of inositol phosphates in rat aorta segments and cultured bovine aortic smooth muscle cells, we studied phosphoinositide hydrolysis and GTPase activity in homogenates and membrane preparations of cultured bovine aortic smooth muscle cells. Pretreatment of homogenate preparations with cyclic GMP plus ATP did not inhibit [8-arginine, 3H] vasopressin (AVP) binding, but resulted in a total suppression of the AVP-induced GTPase activation. The pretreatment with cyclic GMP and ATP also inhibited the formation of inositol phosphates induced by AVP in the presence of low concentrations of guanosine 5'-(gamma-thio)triphosphate (GTP gamma S), or by high concentrations of GTP gamma S alone. However, the formation of inositol phosphates by high concentrations of Ca2+ alone was not blocked. These results suggest that the ability of cyclic GMP to inhibit phosphoinositide hydrolysis results from an inhibition of a guanine nucleotide regulatory protein activation, and the interaction between guanine nucleotide regulatory protein and phospholipase C. While the precise site of this inhibition is not presently known, the inhibition by cyclic GMP is dependent upon the addition of ATP and probably entails a phosphorylation event since adenylylimidodiphosphate can not substitute for the ATP requirement.     

The effects of actinomycin D and cordycepin on neurite formation and acetylcholinesterase activity in mouse neuroblastoma cells

Actinomycin D (actD) (0.003–0.10 μg/ml) and cordycepin (3–30 μg/ml) were used to examine the requirement of de novo RNA synthesis in the pH 6.6-induced expression of neurites and acetylcholinesterase activity in C-1300 mouse neuroblastoma cells. ActD at 0.03 and 0.10 μg/ml caused a pronounced stimulation in neurite formation following 20 h of treatment, although by 30 h exposure to actD (0.01–0.10 μg/ml), neurite formation had rapidly declined. Cordycepin (3–30 μg/ml) also inhibited neurite formation in a concentration- and time-dependent manner, although it did not produce an initial stimulation in neurite formation. The pH 6.6-induced increase in acetylcholinesterase activity was inhibited by both actD and cordycepin in a concentration- and time-dependent manner. Cell viabilities in the presence of actD and cordycepin were 90% or greater throughout the course of these studies.The effects of actD on [³H]uridine and [³H]leucine transport into cells and on incorporation into acid-insoluble material showed that actD inhibited RNA synthesis to a greater extent than it inhibited protein synthesis. Cordycepin caused only minor effects on [³H]uridine and [³H]leucine transport into cells and incorporation into acid-insoluble material; these effects were variable and neither concentration- nor time-dependent. The results of this study show that actD can inhibit the pH 6.6-induced expression of neurites and acetylcholinesterase activity in mouse neuroblastoma cells at concentrations which were relatively non-toxic and which caused a greater inhibition of RNA synthesis than of protein synthesis. This suggests that de novo RNA synthesis is required for the expression and maintenance of neurites and acetylcholinesterase activity in mouse neuroblastoma cells. Experiments with cordycepin were consistent with this conclusion.     

Synthesis of an oligonucleotide inhibitor of protein synthesis in rabbit reticulocyte lysates analogous to that formed in extracts from interferon-treated cells.

A heat-stable, low-molecular-weight inhibitor of protein synthesis is formed on incubation of haemin-supplemented rabbit reticulocyte lysates with ATP and double-stranded RNA (dsRNA). It inhibits the translation of both added encephalomyocarditis virus RNA (EMC RNA) and endogeneous messenger RNA in reticulocyte lysates and mouse L-cell extracts. The enzyme responsible for the synthesis of the inhibitor binds to dsRNA and can be purified on a column of poly(I).poly (C) bound to an inert support. The highly purified enzyme in its stable column-bound state can be conveniently employed to synthesise the inhibitor and to label it with [3H]ATP, or [alpha-32P]ATP or [gamma-32P]ATP as substrate. The radioactive inhibitor synthesised in this way with material from rabbit reticulocyte lysates shows the same spectrum of resistance and sensitivity to alkali and a variety of enzymes as corresponding material similarly synthesised with extracts from interferon-treated mouse L-cells. The inhibitors from the two systems have comparable absorbance spectra, are chromatographically and electrophoretically indistinguishable and are apparently identical in specific activity in the inhibition of protein synthesis in the cell-free system. The inhibitor is also formed on inhibition of protein synthesis by dsRNA in reticulocyte lysates. On comparison of the spectrum of polypeptide products synthesised in response to EMC RNA in the reticulocyte lysate, the effects of the inhibitor or dsRNA were similar: a distinctly different effect was obtained with the haemin-controlled repressor, a known inhibitor of initiation. The significance of these results with respect to the mechanism of action of the inhibitor and its role in the inhibition observed in response to dsRNA is discussed.