Increased concentration of CTP synthetase in hepatoma 3924A: immunological evidence

CTP synthetase (UTP:L-glutamine ligase, EC 6.3.4.2) was purified 370-fold from rapidly growing rat hepatoma 3924A. A major band was demonstrated by acrylamide gel electrophoresis which corresponded to this enzymic activity. It was estimated that the enzyme was 90% pure. Antibodies were produced in rabbit using this purified hepatoma enzyme. The specificity of the anti-serum was proved by the absence of the reaction between control serum and CTP synthetase. The amount of anti-serum required to inactivate completely the cytosolic CTP synthetase of hepatoma 3924A was 11-fold of that required for normal liver which is in good agreement with the 11-fold increase in CTP synthetase activity in this hepatoma. These results demonstrate that the liver and hepatoma 3924A CTP synthetases were immunologically similar or identical and that the markedly increased enzymic activity in hepatoma 3924A reflected an increase in the enzyme protein amount. These studies provide further evidence that in the neoplastic transformation a reprogramming of gene expression takes place which is manifested in the emergence of increased concentrations of CTP synthetase which should provide selective advantages to cancer cells by increasing the capacity for this rate-limiting step in $\text{de novo}$ CTP biosynthesis.     

Regulation and expression of carbamyl phosphate synthetase I mRNA in developing rat liver and Morris hepatoma 5123D

A cDNA clone complementary to mRNA encoding the precursor (Mr = 165,000) to the rat liver mitochondrial matrix enzyme carbamyl phosphate synthetase I (Mr = 160,000) was employed to compare relative amounts of the messenger in adult and fetal liver and in Morris hepatoma 5123D and 3924A cells. Northern blot analysis gave a size estimate for the messenger of 6,500-6,700 nucleotides. Carbamyl phosphate synthetase mRNA levels in 15-day-old fetal liver were less than 10% of adult levels; 5123D cells expressed the messenger at levels about 2-fold higher than normal adult liver, but the messenger was undetectable in 3924A cells. Albumin mRNA was also expressed in the former but not in the latter. Maintaining rats for 5 days on a diet containing 60% casein augmented the relative amount of carbamyl phosphate synthetase mRNA by about 2-fold, while a protein-free diet resulted in reduced levels of the mRNA (about 50% compared to animals on a normal diet). Finally, the pattern of hybridization of carbamyl phosphate synthetase cDNA to HindIII-digested genomic DNA showed no differences between normal liver and its corresponding hepatoma; however, a HindIII site polymorphism was observed between Buffalo and ACI rats.     

A discoordinate increase in the cellular amount of 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-CoA reductase results in the loss of rate-limiting control over cholesterogenesis in a tumour cell-free system.

Cholesterol biosynthesis was characterized in cell-free post-mitochondrial supernatant systems prepared from both normal rat liver and Morris hepatoma 3924A. The rate of cholesterol synthesis per cell was 9-fold greater in the tumour system than in that from normal liver, and the tumour systems showed the loss of rate-limiting control at the hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA reductase (HMGR)-catalysed step. The apparent absence of rate-limiting control over cell-free tumour cholesterogenesis was traced primarily to a discoordinate and dramatic increase in the amount of HMGR in the tumour relative to the liver system. Preliminary evidence for an altered control of the post-lanosterol portion of the pathway was also obtained with the tumour system.     

Role of ribonucleotide reductase in expression of the neoplastic program

Evidence is presented for the tight linkage of ribonucleotide reductase activity with normal and neoplastic proliferation. A sensitive and reproducible assay was worked out to measure CDP reductase activity in rat in normal liver and various tissues, hepatomas of different growth rates, kidney tumors and sarcoma and tissue culture cells of hepatoma 3924A. In the standard assay, linear kinetics were obtained and the reductase activity of the rat liver was 23 ± 3 pmol CDP metabolized per hr/mg protein. When hepatoma 3924A tissue culture cells that had accumulated in plateau phase were replated, allowed to go through lag and log phases and again into the plateau phase during a 96-hr period, ribonucleotide reductase activity rose at 6 hr after cells were plated, the activity was maintained at high levels during the first 48-hr period, and returned to the resting level at 72 and 96 hr. This rise was earlier than that of 6 other enzymes of pyrimidine $\text{de novo}$ and salvage pathways (thymidine kinase, CTP synthetase, orotidine-5′-phosphate decarboxylase, orotate phosphoribosyltransferase, uridine phosphoribosyltransferase, and uridine-cytidine kinase). The rise in reductase activity was synchronous with the increase in incorporation of cytidine and deoxycytidine in the hepatoma cells. The reductase activity was markedly elevated in kidney tumors (31-fold) and in sarcoma (60-fold) as compared to the kidney cortex and muscle, respectively. In 14 lines of transplantable solid hepatomas, reductase activity was increased from 6.2- to 326-fold of that of normal rat liver. The rise in reductase activity positively correlated with the growth rate of the hepatomas; the behavior of CDP reductase was both transformation- and progression-linked. Reductase activity was also high in differentiating and regenerating liver; thus, it also was linked with normal proliferation. However, the elevation in activity was more marked in the rapidly-growing solid hepatoma 3924A (97-fold) than in normal tissues with the same replicative rate, such as regenerating (56-fold) or differentiating (46-fold) liver. Reductase activity was also high in organs of active cell renewal (thymus, bone marrow, spleen and intestine). Since in the solid hepatomas the levels of the substrate for the reductase, the ribonucleoside diphosphates, were generally unaltered, the marked elevation observed in the concentration of deoxynucleoside triphosphates may be attributed primarily to the early and marked rise in CDP reductase activity.     

High concentration of neutral endopeptidase (enkephalinase E.C. 3.4.24.11) in a malignant tumor: rat hepatoma 3924A

The activity of the membrane-bound neutral endopeptidase 24.11 was low in the normal liver (21 +/- 3 pmol/h/mg protein, mean +/- SE) but it increased 56-fold in rapidly-growing rat hepatoma 3924A. The identity of the enzyme in the tumor was established by immunoprecipitation and by using a specific inhibitor of neutral endopeptidase. The endopeptidase concentration in the differentiating and regenerating liver was lower than in normal tissue, 39 and 8% of the corresponding control. The activity of a plasma membrane marker enzyme carboxypeptidase M in the normal liver was 1.0 +/- 0.2 nmol/h/mg protein, it increased about 2-fold in the rapidly-growing hepatoma and in the differentiating liver, but was unchanged in regenerating liver. The function of the strikingly increased neutral endopeptidase activity in the rapidly growing hepatoma may relate to activation of autocrine or exocellular growth factors or to inactivation of cell proliferation-inhibitory factors. Such a biochemical change should confer selective advantages to the cancer cells.     

Superoxide-dependent lipid peroxidation and vitamin E content of microsomes from hepatomas with different growth rates

Lipid peroxidation of microsomal membranes isolated from rat liver, and Morris hepatomas 9618A (slow-growing) and 3924A (fast-growing) was induced by superoxide radicals generated by the action of xanthine oxidase on xanthine. The peroxidation, measured as malondialdehyde and lipid hydroperoxide formation, was optimized with regard to iron concentration and chelation of iron by ADP. In such conditions hepatoma microsomes catalyze lower rates of lipid peroxidation than the normal counterpart. However, while microsomes from hepatoma 3924A show a marked decrease in both the malondialdehyde and hydroperoxide production rates, microsomes from hepatoma 9618A differ moderately from the control, mainly in the long-term production of hydroperoxides. It is also reported here that the 9618A microsomes partially lack cytochrome P-450 (about 40% deficiency), but they have a fatty acid composition similar to that of control. No differences were found in the content of vitamin E between normal and hepatoma 3924A microsomes. Moreover, induction of vitamin E deficiency in hepatoma 3924A microsomes does not influence the rate of either malondialdehyde or lipid hydroperoxide production. On the basis of these results and previous data on the lipid composition of hepatoma 3924A microsomes it is proposed that the high resistance to superoxide-dependent lipid peroxidation of hepatoma 3924A microsomes is related to the low substrate availability rather than the content of membrane antioxidants; and a limitation only in the propagation phase characterizes the hepatoma 9618A microsomal lipid peroxidation and would be due to the partial deficiency of the endogenous propagating agent, cytochrome P-450.     

Decreased activity of cytidine 3':5'-monophosphate (cyclic CMP) phosphodiesterase in the fast-growing Morris hepatoma 3924A, but not in the slow-growing Morris hepatoma 9618A.

The activity level of the newly-identified cyclic CMP phosphodiesterase in the fast-growing Morris hepatoma 3924A was found to be much lower than the control (normal or host) liver. Its level in the slow-growing Morris hepatoma 9618A (a minimal deviation tumor), on the other hand, was the same as the host liver. The level of cyclic AMP phosphodiesterase was higher, whereas that of cyclic GMP phosphodiesterase was lower, in hepatoma 3924A than the control liver. In comparison, the levels of the two enzymes were both depressed in hepatoma 9618A. These findings suggest that depression of cyclic CMP phosphodiesterase may be related to the process and the rate of malignant growth, and that metabolism of cyclic CMP may be more crucial than that of cyclic AMP or cyclic GMP in the neoplastic cell proliferation.     

Enhanced rate of citrate export from cholesterol-rich hepatoma mitochondria. The truncated Krebs cycle and other metabolic ramifications of mitochondrial membrane cholesterol

Mitochondria isolated from rapidly growing, poorly differentiated Morris hepatoma 3924A have been found to export the citrate they generate from pyruvate, at a rate greater than four times that of control liver preparations. These 3924A mitochondria fail to exhibit state 3 respiration when either pyruvate or citrate are supplied as respiratory fuels. Nevertheless, substrates that join the Krebs cycle beyond citrate (viz. isocitrate, glutamate, alpha-ketoglutarate, and succinate) are readily oxidized by tumor 3924A mitochondria. Blocking the tricarboxylate anion exchange carrier with the citrate transport inhibitor 1,2,3-benzenetricarboxylate restores the ability of tumor 3924A mitochondria to respire with pyruvate or citrate. Slowly growing, minimally deviated Morris hepatoma 16 possesses mitochondria that do not display discernably altered respiratory patterns with pyruvate or citrate, but they do exhibit a 30% increase in the rate of citrate export relative to control liver preparations. Paralleling the preferential citrate export from tumor mitochondria is a dramatic enrichment of the tumor mitochondrial membranes with cholesterol. Hepatoma 3924A mitochondria possess a more than 5-fold enrichment in cholesterol, and those from tumor 16 display a 2-fold enrichment. When normal mitochondria, isolated from ACI strain rat liver, were enriched with cholesterol in vitro via a solid-state molecule transfer method employing Sephadex G-10 beads coated with cholesterol, they exhibited altered patterns of Krebs cycle metabolism that were qualitatively identical to those obtained with isolated Morris hepatoma mitochondria (which become enriched in membrane cholesterol endogenously during tumorigenesis). The enrichment of mitochondrial membranes with cholesterol, either by experimental manipulation in vitro or during the proliferation of the tumor in the host animal, promotes these metabolic changes directly, apparently by effecting a functional alteration in the operation of the tricarboxylate (citrate) exchange carrier of the inner mitochondrial membrane. These results highlight two related but incompletely understood phenomena as follows: 1) a functionally truncated Krebs cycle in cholesterol-rich tumor mitochondria, and 2) a mechanism for providing higher cytoplasmic levels of precursor metabolite intermediates which help sustain deregulated cholesterogenesis in hepatomas and other malignant neoplasms.     

DNA polymerase alpha from normal rat liver is different than DNA polymerases alpha from Morris hepatoma strains

To investigate whether DNA replication in rat hepatoma cells is altered compared with that in normal rat liver, the main replicative enzyme, i.e. the DNA polymerase alpha complex, was partially purified from a slow-growing (TC5123) and a fast-growing (MH3924) Morris hepatoma cell strain as well as from normal rat liver. The purified DNA polymerase alpha complexes contained RNA primase. DNA polymerase alpha activities of these complexes were characterized with regard to both their molecular properties and their dNTP and DNA binding sites. The latter were probed with competitive inhibitors of dNTP binding, resulting in Ki values, and with DNA templates, yielding Km values. The sedimentation coefficients of native DNA polymerases alpha from Morris hepatoma cells were found to be lower than that of polymerase alpha from normal rat liver. Consequently, when following the procedure of Siegel and Monty for determination of molecular mass considerably smaller molecular masses were calculated for polymerases of hepatoma strains (TC5123, 127 kDa; MH3924, 138 kDa; rat liver, 168 kDa). Similar differences were found when the dNTP binding site was probed with inhibitors. Ki values obtained with butylphenyl-dGTP were higher for polymerases of the hepatoma strains than for that of normal rat liver. However, Ki values measured with aphidicolin and butylanilino-dATP were lower for DNA polymerase alpha from the fast-growing hepatoma cell strain than for that from normal rat liver, indicating a reduced affinity of the dNTP binding sites for dATP and dCTP. This reduced affinity could be responsible for lowered specificity of nucleotide selection in the base-pairing process which in turn may cause an enhanced error rate in DNA replication in malignant cells. Furthermore, when the DNA binding site was characterized by Michaelis-Menten constants using gapped DNA as a template, Km values were similar for all three DNA polymerases. In contrast, the Km value measured with single-stranded DNA as a template was found to be lower for DNA polymerase alpha from the fast-growing hepatoma MH3924 than for that from normal rat liver. Thus, the DNA-polymerizing complex from MH3924 combines both higher binding strength to single-stranded DNA templates and decreased nucleotide selection, properties which may enhance replication velocity and may lower fidelity.     

Oxidative phosphorylation properties of mitochondria isolated from transplanted hepatoma

Mitochondria were isolated from Morris hepatomas with rapid (types 3683, 7777, and 3924A) and intermediate (types 5123D and 7800) growth rates, using proteolytic digestion of minced tumor tissue to release the particles. Mitochondria isolated by the same procedure from rat liver were employed as controls. All the hepatoma mitochondria were capable of coupled respiration with normal phosphorylation yields (ADP/O) and respiratory control ratios ranging from 2 to considerably more than 10. Particles from hepatomas 7777 and 7800 exhibited properties closest to liver mitochondria, while those from hepatomas 3683 and 3924A showed the greatest difference. All the hepatoma mitochondria were capable of oxidizing succinate, 3-hydroxybutyrate and monoamines. However, the oxidation rates of the latter two substrates by mitochondria from hepatomas 3683 and 3924A were only a fraction of the control rates. These differences appeared to be due, at least in part, to the structural instability of the isolated hepatoma mitochondria. In contrast to the reports of others, all hepatoma mitochondria exhibited considerable stimulation of ATPase activity by uncouplers. Maximal stimulation of ATPase activity by representatives of three classes of uncouplers was in all instances comparable to the values obtained for rat liver mitochondria.     

Oxidative phosphorylation properties of mitochondria isolated from transplanted hepatoma.

Mitochondria were isolated from Morris hepatomas with rapid (types 3683, 7777, and 3924A) and intermediate (types 5123D and 7800) growth rates, using proteolytic digestion of minced tumor tissue to release the particles. Mitochondria isolated by the same procedure from rat liver were employed as controls. All the hepatoma mitochondria were capable of coupled respiration with normal phosphorylation yields (ADP/O) and respiratory control ratios ranging from 2 to considerably more than 10. Particles from hepatomas 7777 and 7800 exhibited properties closest to liver mitochondria, while those from hepatomas 3683 and 3924A showed the greatest difference. All the hepatoma mitochondria were capable of oxidizing succinate, 3-hydroxybutyrate and monoamines. However, the oxidation rates of the latter two substrates by mitochondria from hepatomas 3683 and 3924A were only a fraction of the control rates. These differences appeared to be due, at least in part, to the structural instability of the isolated hepatoma mitochondria. In contrast to the reports of others, all hepatoma mitochondria exhibited considerable stimulation of ATPase activity by uncouplers. Maximal stimulation of ATPase activity by representatives of three classes of uncouplers was in all instances comparable to the values obtained for rat liver mitochondria.     

Down-regulation of c-myc and c-Ha-ras gene expression by tiazofurin in rat hepatoma cells

There was an overexpression of the c-myc gene (11-fold) and of the c-Ha-ras gene (2-fold) in rat hepatoma 3924A cells compared to normal rat liver as measured by dot-blot analysis of total cytoplasmic RNA. The overexpression of c-myc was attributed to a 10- to 14-fold amplification and rearrangement of the c-myc sequences as determined by Southern blot analysis. The expression of the c-myc also was dependent upon the proliferative state of the hepatoma cells. Tiazofurin (2-beta-D-ribofuranosylthiazole-4-carboxamide; NSC 286193), an inhibitor of the activity of IMP dehydrogenase (EC 1.1.1.205), the rate-limiting enzyme of GTP biosynthesis, resulted in a rapid drop (less than 1 h) to 50% of control in the target enzyme activity in the hepatoma cells and in a subsequent marked decrease to 55% in GTP concentration. These events were followed at 12 h of tiazofurin treatment by a 3-fold reduction in the expression of the c-myc gene and a 9-fold decline in that of the c-Ha-ras gene. These results in the hepatoma cells provide evidence in support of the earlier demonstrated correlation in K562 cells between GTP concentration and expression of c-myc and c-ras genes (Olah et al., 1989). These genes might depend on GTP for their expression in hepatoma cells and they might cooperate in a signal pathway that controls cell proliferation.     

Lipid peroxidation and physical properties of smooth and rough hepatoma microsomes

Smooth and rough endoplasmic reticulum of two Morris hepatomas, the slow growing 9618A and the fast growing 3924A, have been isolated, and their biochemical composition, supramolecular organization, and response to the action of peroxidative agents have been studied. Cytochrome P₄₅₀ content and lipid availability are the limiting factors of their peroxidizability. The hemoprotein content is reduced about 80% in hepatoma 9618A and is virtually absent in hepatoma 3924A. The peroxidizability decreases with increasing growth rate of the tumor. The protein, phospholipid, and cholesterol content, the fatty acid composition as well as the double bond index, and the saturated and unsaturated fatty acid content are reported. Differences have been found between normal liver and tumors and between the fractions within a given tumoral tissue. The molecular order, as determined by fluorescence anisotrophy decay of DPH, increases in total microsomes and in the smooth fraction going from liver 9618A to 3924A, whereas for the rough fraction it is the same in liver and hepatoma 9618A; in 3924A it increases of about 30%. Fluidity decreases in total microsomes going from liver to 3924A, to 9618A. In both the purified fractions it decreases with increasing deviation of the tumor.     

Lipid peroxidation and physical properties of smooth and rough hepatoma microsomes

Smooth and rough endoplasmic reticulum of two Morris hepatomas, the slow growing 9618A and the fast growing 3924A, have been isolated, and their biochemical composition, supramolecular organization, and response to the action of peroxidative agents have been studied. Cytochrome P450 content and lipid availability are the limiting factors of their peroxidizability. The hemoprotein content is reduced about 80% in hepatoma 9618A and is virtually absent in hepatoma 3924A. The peroxidizability decreases with increasing growth rate of the tumor. The protein, phospholipid, and cholesterol content, the fatty acid composition as well as the double bond index, and the saturated and unsaturated fatty acid content are reported. Differences have been found between normal liver and tumors and between the fractions within a given tumoral tissue. The molecular order, as determined by fluorescence anisotrophy decay of DPH, increases in total microsomes and in the smooth fraction going from liver 9618A to 3924A, whereas for the rough fraction it is the same in liver and hepatoma 9618A; in 3924A it increases of about 30%. Fluidity decreases in total microsomes going from liver to 3924A, to 9618A. In both the purified fractions it decreases with increasing deviation of the tumor.     

Modulation of IMP dehydrogenase activity and guanylate metabolism by tiazofurin (2-beta-D-ribofuranosylthiazole-4-carboxamide)

Tiazofurin, a C-nucleoside, was cytotoxic in hepatoma 3924A cells grown in culture with an LC50 = 7.5 microM. In the culture, a closely linked dose-related response of tumor cell-kill and depletion of GTP pools was observed after tiazofurin treatment. In rats carrying subcutaneously transplanted hepatoma 3924A solid tumors, a single intraperitoneal injection of tiazofurin (200 mg/kg) caused a rapid inhibition of IMP dehydrogenase (EC 1.2.1.14) activity and depleted GDP, GTP, and dGTP pools in the tumor; concurrently, the 5-phosphoribosyl 1-pyrophosphate (PRPP) and IMP pools expanded 8- and 15-fold, respectively. Tiazofurin decreased tumoral IMP dehydrogenase activity and dGTP pools in a dose-dependent manner over a range of 50-200 mg/kg; by contrast, the depletion of GTP and the accumulation of IMP and PRPP pools were near maximum at 50 mg/kg. The increase in PRPP pools may be attributed to an inhibition by IMP of the activity of hypoxanthine-guanine phosphoribosyltransferase (EC 2.4.2.8). The IMP dehydrogenase activity and the pools of ribonucleotides returned to the normal range by 24-48 h after the single injection of tiazofurin. However, the markedly depleted dGTP pools remained low for 72 h. Tiazofurin treatment resulted in significant anti-tumor activity in rats inoculated with hepatoma 3924A. The decrease in GTP levels and particularly the sustained depletion in the dGTP pools may explain, in part at least, the chemo-therapeutic action of tiazofurin on hepatoma 3924A. This is the first report showing that a marked therapeutic response was achieved against rapidly growing hepatoma 3924A by treatment with a single anti-metabolite.     

Multiple nuclear protein kinase activities in rat liver and hepatoma 3924A.

Multiple protein kinase activities were isolated from nuclei of rat and hepatoma 3924A, and purified 40- to 140-fold, respectively. Hepatic protein kinase-I exhibited high activity with casein as substrate, but was relatively inactive with either liver and hepatoma chromatin or mixed histone. In contrast, hepatoma protein kinase-I showed equivalent activity with casein and liver chromatin. Protein kinase-IIA, -IIB and-IIC from both tissues were more active with liver chromatin in comparison to casein and hepatoma chromatin, and exhibited similar electrophoretic profiles of 32P-chromatin.     

Messenger RNA for manganese and copper-zinc superoxide dismutases in hepatomas: correlation with degree of differentiation

Total and polyadenylylated RNA have been isolated from two Morris hepatomas with different degree of differentiation and from the normal liver of the corresponding tumor-bearing inbred rats. The analysis of mRNA has been performed by Northern hybridization using 32P-dA-tailed synthetic deoxyoligonucleotide probes, 33-mer for Mn superoxide dismutase (SOD) and 36-mer for CuZnSOD, derived from the nucleotide sequences of the rat enzyme cDNAs. Two distinct mRNA species (about 850 and 1080 nucleotides) have been identified by using the MnSOD probe. CuZnSOD is translated from a single message of about 720 nucleotides. The total MnSOD mRNA concentration is decreased by 43% and 57% in the hepatomas 9618A (highly differentiated) and 3924A (poorly differentiated), respectively. CuZnSOD mRNA is practically unchanged in the hepatoma 9618A whereas it is reduced by 80% in the hepatoma 3924A. Comparison of the enzyme activities and mRNA levels indicates a good correlation only for hepatoma 3924A, suggesting that the changes of both SODs are regulated pretranslationally. From the data obtained it is also inferred that the mRNA levels of MnSOD respond more readily than those of CuZnSOD to changes in differentiation.     

Purine and pyrimidine ribonucleotide contents of rat liver and hepatoma 3924A and the effect of ischemia.

Concentrations of 15 ribonucleotides were measured in freeze-clamped rat liver and rapidly growing hepatoma 3924A. The CTP content of the hepatoma was more than 500% of the liver concentration, and GMP was 300% of the liver value. ATP was decreased in the hepatoma (43% of liver concentration); other nucleotides showed smaller differences. In liver, 10 min of ischemia resulted in loss of 76% of the ATP, whilst AMP increased. Total adenine ribonucleotides decreased over this period, and the loss was accounted for by formation of IMP, which increased 75-fold. GTP and CTP levels also decreased in ischemic liver, but UTP remained constant. In contrast, the hepatoma was able to maintain ribonucleoside triphosphate concentrations in ischemia.     

Differences in glutathione oxidation and transpeptidylation between normal liver and hepatomas (author's transl)

Total homogenates from liver tissues, as well from Morris 3924 A and Yoshida AH-I30 hepatomas display a different degree of thiobarbituric acid reacting substances (TBArs) when incubated "in vitro". It is well known that carbonyl compounds arising from lipoperoxidative decomposition of unsaturated fatty acids can easily react with reduced glutathione (GSH). So, the decay in GSH we have shown in previous experiments could be accounted for GSH trapping by the formed aldehydes. Some discrepancies were, however, seen when the decay in GSH and the increase in GSSG were compared, both in normal and in tumour tissues. It is known that GSH can be destroyed not only through oxidative process, but also through the action of gamma-glutamyl-transpeptidase. In the present paper the decrease of total (TG) and reduced (GSH) glutathione was followed and compared with both the increase in GSSG and the increase in the production of TBArs, during "in vitro" incubation. In normal liver, increase in TBArs production parallels the decay in GSH concentration; GSSG, on the contrary, increases. In AH-I30 Yoshida hepatoma cells, TBArs production is lower and GSSG is also decreased. In 3924 A Morris hepatoma GSH decrease is similar to that observed in the liver, while TBArs production is lower and GSSG is also decreased. Analysis of TG content during the incubation-time suggests that GSH decay in both hepatoma types is essentially due to gamma-glutamyl-transpeptidase action, whilst GSH oxidation to GSSG is decreased.