Reversible accumulation of plant suspension cell cultures in g(1) phase and subsequent synchronous traverse of the cell cycle

The induction of DNA synthesis in Datura innoxia Mill. cell cultures was determined by flow cytometry. A large fraction of the total population of cells traversed the cell cycle in synchrony when exposed to fresh medium. One hour after transfer to fresh medium, 37% of the cells were found in the process of DNA synthesis. After 24 hours of culture, 66% of the cells had accumulated in G₂ phase, and underwent cell division simultaneously. Only 10% of the cells remained in G₀ or G₁. Transfer of cells into a medium, 80% (v/v) of which was conditioned by a sister culture for 2 days, was adequate to inhibit this simultaneous traverse of the cell cycle. A large proportion of dividing cells could be arrested at the G₀ + G₁/S boundary by exposure to 10 millimolar hydroxyurea (HU) for 12 to 24 hours. Inhibition of DNA synthesis by HU was reversible, and when resuspended into fresh culture medium synchronized cells resumed the cell cycle. Consequently, a large fraction of the cell population could be obtained in the G₂ phase. However, reversal of G₁ arrested cells was not complete and a fraction of cells did not initiate DNA synthesis. Seventy-four percent of the cells simultaneously reached 4C DNA content whereas the frequency of cells which remained in G₀ + G₁ phase was approximately 17%. Incorporation of radioactive precursors into DNA and proteins identified a population of nondividing cells which represents the fraction of cells in G₀. The frequency of cells entering G₀ was 11% at each generation. Our results indicate that almost 100% of the population of dividing cells synchronously traversed the cell cycle following suspension in fresh medium.     

Centriole ciliation is related to quiescence and DNA synthesis in 3T3 cells.

Both DNA and the centriole pairs are replicated once in each cell generation. The cyclic changes in both must be coordinated so that the two centriole pairs can participate in mitosis when the genetic material is to be partitioned to the two daughter cells. One of the centriole pairs also forms a primary (“9 + 0”) cilium sometime during the cell cycle. In this study, we asked whether some aspects of the coordination of the DNA and centriole cycles occur in G₁, a part of the cell cycle when non-neoplastic cells become irreversibly committed to DNA synthesis. We used indirect immunofluorescence with antitubulin antibody to reveal the centriole pairs as a microtubule organizing center with or without a cilium. Quiescent Balb/c and Swiss 3T3 cells in low serum or at high cell density stopped in G₁ with ciliated, probably unduplicated centrioles. When these quiescent 3T3 cells were stimulated to enter DNA synthesis, the centriole's ciliation changed in three phases: first, an initial but transient deciliation within 1–2 hr; second, a return of the cilium by 6–8 hr; and third, a subsequent final deciliation of the centriole coincident with the initiation of DNA synthesis at 12–24 hr.The deciliated and duplicated centrioles subsequently separated in preparation for mitosis. Together with other information, these results imply that centrioles in growing mammalian cells are primarily ciliated in a part of G₁ during which the cells can arrest in suboptimal environmental conditions. Arrests in low serum or at high cell density also occur before centriole replication. These results suggest that deciliation and duplication of the centriole may occur near the time that quiescent cells become irreversibly committed to DNA synthesis. Certain centriole events may therefore be necessary before DNA synthesis can be initiated in 3T3 cells.     

Reversible alterations in the mitotic cycle of chick embryo cells in various states of growth regulation

Chick embryo cells which have been kept overnight at pH 6.8 in the absence of serum multiply very slowly. Only a small fraction of cells is in the S period at any given time, and the rate of uptake of 2-deoxy-D-glucose is very low. Upon raising the pH to 7.4 and adding serum (“turn-on”) the uptake of 2-deoxy-D-glucose increases immediately; the rate of DNA synthesis increases after a lag of about 4 hours, and represents an increase in the fraction of cells synthesizing DNA. The uptake of 2-deoxy-D-glucose is rapidly returned to its original low rate at any time by again lowering the pH and removing serum (“turn-off”). The synthesis of DNA in the culture remains constant or continues to rise at a markedly reduced rate following the same treatment. Lowering pH or removing serum independently of each other is less efficient at inhibiting the increase in DNA synthesis than the combined treatment but each accomplishes a similar result. Cultures which have been “turnedoff” during the early stages of the rapid increase in DNA synthesis, resume their prior rate of increase immediately if “turned-on” again within 2.5 hours. If the cultures have been “turned-off” for 5.5 hours before restoring the “turn-on,” there is a 2 hour delay before they resume an increased rate of DNA synthesis. The results indicate that chick embryo cells do not become committed to the initiation of DNA synthesis until shortly before, or at the time of the onset of the S period. Up to 96% of the cells in post-confluent cultures growing in conventional medium become labeled upon continuous, prolonged exposure to ³H-thymidine. Seventy-eight percent of the cells in serum-deprived cultures growing at a very low rate become labeled. These and other considerations suggest that the inhibition of cell multiplication by high population density or serum deprivation is caused by a lengthening of the time cells remain in the prereplicative G₁ period rather than by shifting cells into a qualitatively distinct G₀ period. There may, however, be a period common to all cells regardless of growth rate, in which cells are not progressing toward the S period. The length of this variable period would then determine the growth rate of a population of cells.     

Conditionally lethal mutations in Chinese hamster cells. I. Isolation of a temperature-sensitive line and its investigation by cell cycle studies

The isolation of a temperature sensitive cell line from the Chinese hamster line CCL39 of the American Type Culture Collection is described. At the nonpermissive temperature (39°C) the cells become attached to the surface of tissue culture dishes, but no microscopically observable colonies are formed upon prolonged incubation. Exposure to the high temperature for more than 24 hours leads to an almost complete loss in viability. A karyotypic analysis showed that this new line has lost one of the medium-sized metacentric chromosomes, although no proof is available so far to show that this loss is not simply coincidental. In nonsynchronized cultures transferred to 39°C DNA synthesis stops first, RNA synthesis shortly thereafter, while protein synthesis (turnover) continues for a longer time. After such a shift the cell number increases by less than 15% as measured with the Coulter counter. Studies with synchronized cultures give the following results: (1) one round of DNA synthesis can occur at 39°C when the cells are released from serum starvation or a hydroxyurea block, or when mitotic cells are placed at 39°C; (2) the entry of cells into metaphase of mitosis at 39°C is almost normal when the preceding time interval at 39°C is only eight hours (release of cells from G₁/S boundary), but considerably reduced when the cells spend an additional 12 to 15 hours at 39°C in G₁ (release from serum starvation). Infection by SV40 virus temporarily induces DNA synthesis after it has come to a stop at the nonpermissive temperature, but cells permanently transformed by SV40 still exhibit the temperature-sensitive phenotype.     

Arrest of C1300 neuroblastoma cells by limiting serum or isoleucine: implications for growth control in malignant cells.

The arrest of C1300 neuroblastoma cells by limiting serum or isoleucine in the growth medium is described. The resumption of DNA synthesis after the return of the cells to complete medium indicates that they stop in the early G₁ (or G₀) phase of the cell cycle with both arrest procedures. However, the isoleucine limitation procedure also arrests about half of the cells in the G₂ phase of the cell cycle. This result is used to modify a recent model for growth control of transformed cells.     

The mechanism of regulation of fibroblastic cell replication. II. Participation of the nucleoli

Cultures of human diploid fibroblasts (HDFs) exhibiting density dependent inhibition of replication (DDIR) resumed their progression through the cell cycle following medium replacement and, after a lag period of two hours, showed a dramatic increase in the incidence of isonucleolinar ⁴ cells and in the levels of uptake of ³H-uridine into the nucleoli. Between five and ten hours after refeeding these nucleolar changes were maximal, leveling off at the highest values, in periods corresponding to late G1 and early S. Concomitantly, a parallel increase in the number of nucleolini per cell occurred. As cells progressed through S and G2 phases the nucleolini decreased in number and reverted to the aniso-nucleolinar type. The intensity of nucleolar labeling by ³H-uridine and its correlate, the frequency of cells with labeled nucleoli, also decreased during these cell cycle stages. Both pre- and postreplicative periods of mitotic quiescence were characterized by high levels of anisonucleolinosis (60–80% of the cells) and by very low levels of nucleolar ³H-uridine incorporation. The magnitude of these nucleolar changes occurring during G1 stage was found to be strongly dependent on: (1) the length of time of contact between the cells and the fresh medium, at least eight hours of contact being necessary for a maximal response; (2) the amount of serum in the medium, the optimal serum concentration being between 10 and 50%, and (3) the pH of the medium. The nucleolar response was completely abolished at pH values below 7.0. These nucleolar changes were very sensitive to the presence of cycloheximide (10 μg/ml) and actinomycin D (0.003 μg/ml). The behavior of the nucleoli in response to these parameters was similar to the activation response of the cells to initiate DNA synthesis. During the time period of maximal nucleolar (activation) the onset of DNA synthesis as well as the morphological and autoradiographic manifestations of the nucleolar activation were completely inhibited by very low levels of actinomycin D (Ellem and Mironescu, '72), a selective inhibitor of nucleolar RNA synthesis (Perry, '65). This suggested a possible role of nucleolar metabolism, in normal diploid cells, in the initiation of DNA synthesis. Our results, however, seem to indicate that the nucleolar changes are necessary but not sufficient for the subsequent initiation of DNA synthesis, since with graded serum concentrations or medium volumes, smaller levels of a stimulus were needed to produce maximal isonucleolinosis than to effect a maximum replicative response in the cells.     

Endogenous membrane phosphorylation increases in serum-stimulated 3T3 cells.

Autophosphorylation of 3T3 cells, utilizing endogenous membrane protein kinase, can be detected by incubating the cells with μgM³²P-ATP. The phosphorylation activity of growing cells is two to four-fold greater than quiescent ones. In this study, the increased phosphorylation activity of serum-stimulated cells was examined. Phosphorylation, measured at times after serum stimulation of quiescent cultures, was found to increase in early G₁ and to reach a maximum prior to DNA synthesis. This increase in stimulated cells was dependent on RNA and protein synthesis but not on DNA synthesis. The increased activity decayed quickly (half-life approximately 2–3 hours) in the presence of cycloheximide, while the basal activity in quiescent cells was relatively unchanged. Insulin, prostaglandin E₁ or prostaglandin F2α were also found to bring about the same increase in phosphorylation as serum, although in contrast with serum they caused only a small percentage of the culture to synthesize DNA. The results suggest that enhanced phosphorylation activity is a G₁ event. It does not depend on subsequent DNA synthesis. Phosphorylation may be one of the biochemical steps in G₁, necessary but not sufficient for cells to move into S phase.     

The uncoupling of macromolecular synthesis from cell division in SV3T3 cells by glucocorticoids: The imposition of a G2 block

Through a receptor-mediated process glucocorticosteroids block cell division by 20–45 hours in SV40-transformed 3T3 (SV3T3) mouse fibroblasts growing in a low calf serum (0.30% v/v) medium containing biotin. However, the rate of DNA synthesis, determined at various times after dexamethasone addition by the incorporation of radioactive thymidine into acid-insoluble material, is not inhibited by this steroid as late as 66 hours. A modest decrease is observable by 91 hours. There is also no reduction in the uptake of exogenous thymidine into acid-soluble cellular pools. Similarly, RNA synthesis and the uptake of radioactive uridine are not affected by the glucocorticoid up to 69 hours. Measurements of the amounts of cellular DNA (by the fluorescent dye, 4′,6-diamidino-2-phenylindole) and protein revealed that both macromolecules are present in elevated quantities in steroid-treated cells. (The constancy of the protein content in the nonproliferative stage suggests that protein synthesis and degradation are occurring at equal rates.) If the steroid is removed and fresh 10% calf serum medium added, cell division commences (even if nearly 90% of protein synthesis is inhibited by cycloheximide) as early as 45 minutes later such that by 2 hours the viable cell count increases by as much as 70%. Since the growth curve after recovery resembles a step function, it appears that the cells are partially synchronized by the glucocorticoid. These results demonstrate that the glucocorticoid cytostatic effect in SV3T3 cells is the result of a block not in G₁, as previously thought, but in G₂.     

REGULATION OF INITIATION OF DNA SYNTHESIS IN CHINESE HAMSTER CELLS : II. Induction of DNA Synthesis and Cell Division by Isoleucine and Glutamine in G1-Arrested Cells in Suspension Culture

Suspension cultures of Chinese hamster cells (line CHO), which had stopped dividing and were arrested in G₁ following growth to high cell concentrations in F-10 medium, could be induced to reinitiate DNA synthesis and to divide in synchrony upon addition of the appropriate amounts of isoleucine and glutamine. Both amino acids were required to initiate resumption of cell-cycle traverse. Deficiencies in other amino acids contained in F-10 medium did not result in accumulation of cells in G₁, indicating a specific action produced by limiting quantities of isoleucine and glutamine. In the presence of sufficient glutamine, approximately 2 x 10^-6 M isoleucine was required for all cells to initiate DNA synthesis in a population initially containing 1.5 x 10⁵ cells/ml. Under similar conditions, about 4 x 10^-6 M isoleucine was required for all G₁-arrested cells to progress through cell division. In contrast, 1 x 10^-4 M glutamine was necessary for maximum initiation of DNA synthesis in G₁ cells, along with sufficient isoleucine. A technique for rapid production of G₁-arrested cells is described in which cells from an exponentially growing population placed in F-10 medium deficient in both isoleucine and glutamine or isoleucine alone accumulated in G₁ after 30 hr.     

In vitro studies of the effect of intermittent compressive forces on cartilage cell proliferation.

Intermittent compressive (IC) forces (96 mm Hg, 0.3 Hz) inhibit by 35–60% the serum stimulated increase in ornithine decarboxylase activity (ODC) in chick embryo epiphyseal cartilage cells and rat chondrosarcoma cells. IC had no effect on mouse fibroblast L-cells ODC. The dose-response pattern of the IC effect indicated an all-or-none response with a threshold at 80 mm Hg, a pressure roughly equivalent to the in vivo weight bearing force. The k_m of the cartilage cell ODC, measured at four hours, was about 0.1 mM and was not affected by IC. The V_max, on the other hand, was significantly reduced by IC which is consistent with less enzyme or non-competitive inhibition. IC also produced a significant increase in cAMP levels in both cartilage explants and isolated cells in the presence and absence of serum and a significant reduction in ³H-thymidine incorporation into DNA. The findings show that cellular cAMP, on one hand, and ODC and DNA synthesis, on the other hand, change in opposite directions following exposure to serum and/or IC. Investigation of the IC effect on DNA synthesis in serum-deprived synchronized cartilage cells revealed that IC reduced the number of cells going into S but did not lengthen the G₁ phase. Exposure to IC early in G₁ (0–13 hours) produced the full effect, whereas IC application between 13 to 24 hours (pre S) had no effect. IC had no effect on ³H-thymidine incorporation in L-cells.     

Cell cycle arrest by prostaglandin A1 at the G1/S phase interface with up-regulation of oncogenes in S-49 cyc− cells

Our previous studies have implied that prostaglandins inhibit cell growth independent of cAMP. Recent reports, however, have suggested that prostaglandin arrest of the cell cycle may be mediated through protein kinase A. In this report, in order to eliminate the role of c-AMP in prostaglandin mediated cell cycle arrest, we use the-49 lymphoma variant (cyc^?) cells that lack adenylate cyclase activity. We demonstrate that dimethyl prostaglandin A₁ (dmPGA₁) inhibits DNA synthesis and cell growth in cyc^? cells. DNA synthesis is inhibited 42% by dmPGA₁ (50 μM) despite the fact that this cell line lacks cellular components needed for cAMP generation. The ability to decrease DNA synthesis depends upon the specific prostaglandin structure with the most effective form possessing the α,β unsaturated ketone ring. Dimethyl PGA₁ is most effective in inhibiting DNA synthesis in cyc^? cells, with prostaglandins PGE₁ and PGB₁ being less potent inhibitors of DNA synthesis. DmPGE₂ caused a significant stimulation of DNA synthesis. S-49 cyc^- variant cells exposed to (30–50 μm) dmPGA₁, arrested in the G₁ phase of the cell cycle within 24 h. This growth arrest was reversed when the prostaglandin was removed from the cultured cells; growth resumed within hours showing that this treatment is not toxic. The S-49 cyc^? cells were chosen not only for their lack of adenylate cyclase activity, but also because their cell cycle has been extensively studied and time requirements for G₁, S, G₂, and M phases are known. Within hours after prostaglandin removal the cells resume active DNA synthesis, and cell number doubles within 15 h suggesting rapid entry into S-phase DNA synthesis from the G₁ cell cycle block. The S-49 cyc^? cells are known to have a G₁/S boundary through M phase transition time of 14.8 h, making the location of the prostaglandin cell cycle arrest at or very near the G₁/S interface. The oncogenes, c-fos and c-myc which are normally expressed during G₁ in proliferating cells have a 2–3 fold enhanced expression in prostaglandin G₁ arrested cells. These data using the S-49 variants demonstrate that dmPGA₁ inhibits DNA synthesis and arrests the cell cycle independent of cAMP-mediated effects. The prostaglandin arrested cells maintain the gene expression of a G₁ synchronous cell which suggests a unique molecular mechanism for prostaglandin action in arresting cell growth. These properties indicate that this compound may be an effective tool to study molecular mechanisms of regulation of the cell cycle.     

Induced changes in the rates of uridine- 3 H uptake and incorporation during the G 1 and S periods of synchronized Chinese hamster cells

The rates of uridine-5-³H incorporation into RNA and the rates of uridine uptake into the acid-soluble pool during the cell cycle of V79 Chinese hamster cells were examined. Cells cultured on Eagle''s minimal essential medium supplemented with fetal calf serum, lactalbumin hydrolysate, glutamine, and trypsin displayed rates of incorporation and uptake which increased only slightly during G₁ and accelerated sharply as DNA synthesis commenced. In contrast, cells cultured on minimal essential medium supplemented only with calf serum exhibited rates of incorporation and uptake which increased linearly through both G₁ and S. The transition from one pattern to the other can be induced within 24 hr and is completely reversible. The nonlinear pattern exhibited by cells grown on the supplemented fetal calf serum medium can also be overcome with high exogenous uridine concentrations. In the presence of 200 µM uridine, these cells display a linear pattern of increase in rates of uridine incorporation and uptake. It is concluded that at lower uridine concentrations the pattern of increase in the rate of uridine incorporation into RNA during the cell cycle for a given population of cells is dependent upon the rate of uridine entry into the cell, and that this pattern is not rigidly determined but can be modified by culture conditions.     

Lipoxygenase metabolism is required for interleukin-3 dependent proliferation and cell cycle progression of the human M-07e cell line

The cell line M-07e requires either Interleukin-3 (IL-3) or granulocyte-macrophage colony stimulating factor (GM-CSF) for proliferation in vitro. Cells deprived of growth factor for up to 48 hours remain viable but no longer divide. The growth-factor-deprived M-07e cells begin to divide within 48 hours of reexposure to IL-3. Flow cytometric analysis of M-07e cells labeled with hypotonic propidium iodide demonstrates that the percentage of cells undergoing DNA synthesis decreases from 24%, in a log phase population of IL-3 stimulated cells, to 1% when cells are deprived of IL-3 for 24 hours. IL-3-deprived cells accumulate predominantly in a flow cytometry peak representative of G₀/G₁. DNA synthetic activity, as determined by tritiated thymidine uptake and flow cytometry, resumes between 12 and 18 hours after reexposure to IL-3, reaching a peak of up to 40% by 24 hours and returning to log phase levels by 72 hours. Prior to initiation of DNA synthesis, increases are seen in mRNA levels for five-lipoxygenase-activating protein (FLAP). Following reexposure to IL-3, a rapid time-dependent biosynthesis of leukotriene D4 (LTD4) is induced by M-07e cells. When IL-3 is added in the presence of any of three lipoxygenase inhibitors tested (Piriprost, caffeic acid, nordihydroguiaretic acid) or FLAP inhibitor, MK-886, there is dose-dependent inhibition of the resumption of proliferation and of DNA synthesis. Flow cytometric cell cycle analysis demonstrates that the inhibited cells remain in the G₀/G₁ population and do not progress through the cell cycle. These results are consistent with our previous observation that an intact lipoxygenase pathway is necessary for hematopoietic growth-factor-stimulated colony formation of normal bone marrow myeloid progenitors and suggest that the induction of a lipoxygenase metabolite or metabolites is necessary for myeloid cells to progress through the cell cycle when stimulated by a hematopoietic growth factor. J. Cell. Physiol. 170:309–315, 1997. © 1997 Wiley-Liss, Inc.     

Inhibition of cellular transition from G1-resting to G1-prereplicative phase by aminonucleoside or puromycin

Summary Human embryonic lung fibroblasts (IMR-90 and WI-38) were arrested in the G₁ phase of the cell cycle by serum deprivation and high population density. Within 1 hr after the addition of medium containing fresh serum, these cells showed an increase in rRNA synthesis. The inclusion of 100 μg per ml aminonucleoside of puromycin (AMS) in the fresh medium eliminated the serum stimulation of rRNA synthesis and prevented the cells from making the G₁-resting phase to G₁-prereplicative phase transition. AMS also prevented the synthesis of HnRNA normally found within 10 hr after serum stimulation. Serum-stimulated RNA synthesis in starved, SV-40 transformed fibroblasts (WI-38-VA-13 cells) was inhibited, but not completely prevented, by AMS indicating that transformed cells may produce specific RNA's that are not AMS-sensitive and that may be responsible for the failure of transformed cells to be arrested in G₁. This work was supported by PHS Research Grant CA19750-02 from the National Cancer Institute. These results were reported previously in a preliminary form (7).     

Differential effects of ACTH or 8-Br-cAMP on growth and replication in a functional adrenal tumor cell line

The effects of ACTH and 8-Br-cAMP on growth and replication of a functional mouse adrenal tumor cell line (Y-1) were investigated. ACTH and 8-Br-cAMP both inhibited DNA synthesis and replication when added to randomly growing cell cultures. ACTH addition and serum deprivation each arrested cells in G₁; an additional point of arrest in G₂ occurred with 8-Br-cAMP. Cells whose growth was arrested in G₁ by ACTH had a significantly larger volume and protein and RNA content compared to cells arrested in G₁ by serum deprivation. When ACTH or 8-Br-cAMP was added with serum to cells arrested by serum deprivation, the wave of DNA synthesis and cell division seen with serum was abolished. ACTH and 8-Br-cAMP had no effect on the serum-induced increases in protein and RNA content, rates of leucine incorporation into protein and uridine incorporation into RNA, and RNA polymerase I activity observed in cells during the pre-replicative period. Partial inhibition of the serum-induced increase in uridine transport occurred. ACTH and cAMP do not appear to inhibit replication by generalized negative pleiotypic effects but rather to inhibit the initiation of DNA synthesis more specifically. The ACTH-arrested Y-1 cell resembles an in vivo hypertrophied adrenal cortical cell.     

Stimulation of DNA synthesis and cell division in a chemically defined medium: Effect of Epidermal Growth Factor,Insulin and Vitamin B12 on resting cultures of 3T6 cells

Addition of Epidermal Growth Factor, Insulin and Vitamin B₁₂ in completely serum free medium to cultures of 3T6 cells arrested in the $\text{G}{}_1\text{G}{}_0$ phase of the cell cycle stimulates DNA synthesis in 80–90% of the cell population. Cell division occurs 48–72 hours after factor addition. Because the peptides are active at low levels and interact synergistically, this model system offers a powerful tool for elucidating mechanisms of growth regulation which might have a physiological relevance.     

GROWTH CONTROL OF DIFFERENTIATED FETAL RAT HEPATOCYTES IN PRIMARY MONOLAYER CULTURE : VI. Studies with Conditioned Medium and Its Functional Interactions with Serum Factors

Serum-deficient ≤0.00003% vol/vol) conditioned medium (CM) obtained from primary cultures of fetal rat hepatocytes initiates DNA synthesis and mitosis in homologous quiescent cultures. CM similarly prepared from 3T3 fibroblast cultures is inactive. At least two conditioning factors are involved in initiating DNA synthesis. The first of these, arginine, is obligatory, synthesized by the cells, and released into the culture medium. The second, a lipid or lipid-containing material, is stable to pH extremes (pH 2, pH 10) and chromatographs with an apparent R₁ ~0.5 on silica gel thin-layer plates using hexane-ether (4: 1) as the solvent system. It is suggested that these cultured hepatocytes enter or leave the G₀ or early G₁ phase of the cell cycle as determined in part by their capacity to use available conditioning factor and nutrient components of the medium, in particular, arginine. Serum factors including serum fraction I (4), insulin, and possibly, lipid-like conditioning material appear to initiate DNA synthesis by controlling cellular processes involved with the enhanced utilization and synthesis of growth-limiting nutrients.     

The comparative cell cycle and metabolic effects of chemical treatments on root tip meristems. III. Chlorsulfuron

Intact and excised cultured pea roots (Pisum sativum L. cv Alaska) were treated with chlorsulfuron at concentrations ranging from 2.8 ×10^?4 M to 2.8×10^?6 M. At all concentrations this chemical was demonstrated to inhibit the progression of cells from G₂ to mitosis (M) and secondarily from G₁ to DNA synthesis (S). The S and M phases were not directly affected, but the transition steps into those phases were inhibited. Total protein synthesis was unaffected by treatment of intact roots with 2.8×10^?6 M chlorsulfuron. RNA synthesis was inhibited by 43% over a 24-h treatment period. It is hypothesized that chlorsulfuron inhibits cell cycle progression by blocking the G₂ and G₁ transition points through inhibition of cell cycle specific RNA synthesis.     

Interactions of ganglioside GM1 with human and fetal calf sera. Formation of ganglioside-serum albumin complexes

The interactions of ganglioside G_M1 with human and fetal calf sera were studied, the following main results being obtained: (a) G_M1, upon incubation with both sera gave origin to two G_M1-protein complexes, which also occurred after interaction of G_M1 with the albumin fractions prepared from the same sera. Instead no complex formation occurred using the albumin-free fractions. Therefore G_M1 appeared to specifically bind serum albumin and to form G_M1-albumin complexes. (b) G_M1 binding to serum albumin started at ganglioside concentrations surely micellar (above 10^?6 M), was time and concentration dependent, and resulted in a relevant degree of G_M1 complexation (up to 80% of total G_M1 in human serum and up to 18% in fetal calf serum). (c) the binding kinetics appeared, in both serum and the correspondent albumin fraction, to be biphasic: in the first phase, occurring till about 2 · 10^?4 M G_M1, the ratio between bound and total G_M1 increased linearly with increasing G_M1 concentration; in the second phase, occurring above 2 · 10^?4 M, the ratio remained practically constant. After these findings it should be expected that G_M1, when present in serum containing systems, forms complexes with albumin. This should be appropriately considered when studying the effects of exogeneous G_M1 in in vivo and in vitro (tissue cultures) systems.