Thymidine transport by cultured Novikoff hepatoma cells and uptake by simple diffusion and relationship to incorporation into deoxyribonucleic acid

The initial rate of thymidine-³H incorporation into the acid-soluble pool by cultured Novikoff rat hepatoma cells was investigated as a function of the thymidine concentration in the medium. Below, but not above 2 µM, thymidine incorporation followed normal Michaelis-Menten kinetics at 22°, 27°, 32°, and 37°C with an apparent K_m of 0.5 µM, and the V_max values increased with an average Q₁₀ of 1.8 with an increase in temperature. The intracellular acid-soluble ³H was associated solely with thymine nucleotides (mainly deoxythymidine triphosphate [dTTP]). Between 2 and 200 µM, on the other hand, the initial rate of thymidine incorporation increased linearly with an increase in thymidine concentration in the medium and was about the same at all four temperatures. Pretreatment of the cells with 40 or 100 µM p-chloromercuribenzoate for 15 min or heat-shock (49.5°C, 5 min) markedly reduced the saturable component of uptake without affecting the unsaturable component or the phosphorylation of thymidine. The effect of p-chloromercuribenzoate was readily reversed by incubating the cells in the presence of dithiothreitol. Persantin and uridine competitively inhibited thymidine incorporation into the acid-soluble pool without inhibiting thymidine phosphorylation. At concentrations below 2 µM, thymidine incorporation into DNA also followed normal Michaelis-Menten kinetics and was inhibited in an apparently competitive manner by Persantin and uridine. The apparent K_m and K_i values were about the same as those for thymidine incorporation into the nucleotide pool. The over-all results indicate that uptake is the rate-limiting step in the incorporation of thymidine into the nucleotide pool as well as into DNA. The cells possess an excess of thymidine kinase, and thymidine is phosphorylated as rapidly as it enters the cells and is thereby trapped. At low concentrations, thymidine is taken up mainly by a transport reaction, whereas at concentrations above 2 µM simple diffusion becomes the principal mode of uptake. Evidence is presented that indicates that uridine and thymidine are transported by different systems. Upon inhibition of DNA synthesis, net thymidine incorporation into the acid-soluble pool ceased rapidly. Results from pulse-chase experiments indicate that a rapid turnover of dTTP to thymidine may be involved in limiting the level of thymine nucleotides in the cell.     

Action of Miracil D and related compounds on histone synthesis and phosphorylation in regenerating liver

The effect of Miracil D and hycanthone on ³H-amino acid incorporation into histones was studied under conditions known to cause a greater than 90% inhibition of thymidine incorporation into DNA of regenerating rat liver. A dose level of 50 mg of either drug per kg body weight administered 8 h after partial hepatectomy caused an approximate 50% inhibition of amino acid incorporation into fl, f2b and combined f2a plus f3 histone in 24-h regenerating liver. There was little or no effect on amino acid nitrogen concentration or incorporation of ³H-amino acid into the acid-soluble fraction, cytoplasmic proteins or acid-insoluble nuclear proteins. Under the same conditions, Miracil D caused a 65% inhibition of ³²P incorporation into lysirierich f1 histone whereas a structurally related compound, GE-99, did not have a significant inhibitory effect on this parameter nor on [³H]thymidine incorporation into DNA. Temporal studies with hycanthone revealed a suppression of the increased phosphorylation of fl histone in regenerating rat liver without influencing the phosphorylation of other histones. The data support the concept of coordinated control of DNA synthesis and phosphorylation of fl histone.     

Zur Wirkung von Sauerstoff auf die 32P-Markierung von Polyphosphaten und organischen Phosphaten bei Ankistrodesmus braunii im Licht

Summary Short time incorporation of ³²P was carried out with synchronised algae (young cells) depleted of phosphate. For the separation and determination of the acid-insoluble phosphate fractions of the cells an improved fractionation procedure was applied. In order to exclude competition by carbon dioxide all experiments were done in the absence of CO₂.Compared with nitrogen, CO₂-free air produces an increase in the labelling of phosphorylated compounds in the light. In strong white light, at high pH, air effects a remarkable increase of ³²P in the acid-insoluble phosphate (P _u), mainly in inorganic polyphosphates (P _ul), whereas the total phosphate uptake remains almost unchanged. The increase in labelling of acid-insoluble phosphate is, therefore, accompanied by a substantial decrease in the labelling of acid-soluble compounds (P _l). In weak white light or in far-red light, at low pH even in strong white or red light, an increase of phosphate uptake and an increased labelling of the acid-stable organic acid-soluble fraction (P _os) is observed instead. The effect of oxygen increases somewhat with increasing light intensity up to light saturation, and it increases markedly with increasing oxygen concentration.An essential contribution by oxidative phosphorylation to this oxygen effect can be ruled out on account of its much higher sensitivity to oxygen. Pseudocyclic photophosphorylation is also not regarded as the main force because of its higher oxygen affinity. Occurrence of photorespiration has not been clearly established so far in related algae (Chlorella), and its use for phosphorylation is unknown. A better, although not complete explanation is given by comparing the oxygen effect with the well-known inhibition of photosynthesis by oxygen (Warburg effect), which leads to an increase in glycolate formation and a simultaneous decrease in the pool sizes of carbon reduction cycle intermediates, even in the absence of CO₂. Since the photophosphorylation process, as well as the photosynthetic electron flow, seem unaffected by high oxygen concentrations whereas the formation of organic phosphate compounds is partially inhibited, excess ATP may be available for polyphosphate synthesis. This explanation would be consistent with the assumption that polyphosphate-ADP kinase mediates an equilibrium between ATP and polyphosphates, mainly at higher pH. At low pH and in other cases the excess ATP might be available for an increased phosphate uptake and for phosphorylation of endogenous carbohydrates.

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Herrn Prof. Dr. W. Simonis zum 60. Geburtstag gewidmet.     

Lysosomal acid proteinase of rabbit liver

1. The interference mechanism of carbonyl cyanide m-chlorophenylhydrazone with the respiratory process and with phosphorylation coupled to respiration has been investigated in resting cells of Escherichia coli. 2. Preincubation of the cells with carbonyl cyanide m-chlorophenylhydrazone in the absence of substrate caused strong inhibition of succinate oxidation. The inactivation of the respiratory system proved to be time-dependent and temperature-dependent and could be arrested by adding the substrate. Inhibition of incorporation of ³²P into acid-soluble organic phosphate esters exceeded the inhibition of oxygen uptake. 3. In contrast with succinate, the rate of oxidation of glucose was increased by carbonyl cyanide m-chlorophenylhydrazone. The sensitivity of other substrates to the inhibitor was less than that of succinate. 4. Various observations are described in support of the view that respiratory inhibition induced by carbonyl cyanide m-chlorophenylhydrazone is a result of its interference with ATP synthesis. The capacity of a given substrate to increase intracellular ATP concentration appeared to be directly related to its resistance to inhibition. In cell-free extracts carbonyl cyanide m-chlorophenylhydrazone still suppressed ³²P incorporation but had no effect on respiration. 5. Carbonyl cyanide m-chlorophenylhydrazone-induced stimulation of glucose oxidation and the acceleration of succinate oxidation by ADP or AMP in cells rendered permeable to nucleotides are tentatively interpreted as an indication that a certain part of respiration in E. coli is under phosphate-acceptor-mediated control.     

Author index

The effect of the accumulation of β-galactosides on the uptake of P_i into cells and cell nucleotides was examined in ML strains of Escherichia coli. Nonmetabolizable sulfur analogs of lactose, which are accumulated only in the presence of the product of y gene of the Lac operon, inhibited the uptake of P₁ into whole cells and into cell nucleotides. This inhibition was most pronounced in starved cells, those with a low rate of ATP production. When the cell membrane was disrupted by sonication or detergents, the inhibition was lost. No significant inhibition was seen in y^? strains or in inducible y⁺ strains which were not induced. Hence. inhibition of the uptake of phosphate into nucleotides is dependent on the presence of the product of the y gene and a β-galactoside.A technique using ³²P_i and ³³P₁ was developed for simultaneously measuring the turnover and level of nucleotides. β-Galactosides inhibited ATP synthesis in aerobic cells, but stimulated ATP synthesis in anaerobic cells, indicating that an intermediate of oxidative phosphorylation was the source of energy for β-galactoside accumulation.     

De novo pyrimidine biosynthesis in isolated rat hepatocytes. Quantitative aspects of the regulation by UTP

Quantitative aspects of de novo pyrimidine biosynthesis in rat hepatocytes were monitored. A reduction of intracellular UTP contents by different concentrations of D-galactosamine led to a dose-dependent increase of 14CO2 incorporation into the sum of all acid-soluble uracil nucleotides. In controls the rate of de novo synthesis which was calculated from the incorporation rate of 14CO2 into the sum of all acid-soluble uracil nucleotides was 0.014 mumol X h-1 X g-1 compared to 0.056 mumol X h-1 X g-1 wet weight of liver in situations of a maximally stimulated de novo synthesis. Incubation of hepatocytes with uridine led to a dose-dependent reduction of 14CO2 incorporation to less than 25% of the amount incorporated in the controls. Alterations of the CTP content had no influence on the 14CO2 incorporation. In the presence of high D-galactosamine concentrations the increase of the total amount of acid-soluble uracil nucleotides exceeded the rate of the de novo synthesis derived from the incorporation of 14CO2 into the sum of the acid-soluble uracil nucleotide pool. It was also greater than the increase of the total amount of intra- and extracellular orotate after acidic hydrolysis--even in the presence of 6-azauridine, which stimulated de novo pyrimidine biosynthesis by itself.     

The possible role of tightly bound adenine nucleotides in oxidative and photosynthetic phosphorylation

The tightly bound nucleotides of the beef-heart mitochondrial ATPase are released during cold inactivation followed by ammonium sulfate precipitation. During incubation at 0°C the sedimentation coefficient (s_{20 W}) of the ATPase first declines from 12.1 S to 9 S. Prolonged incubation or precipitation with ammonium sulfate leads to dissociation of the 9 S component into subunits with s_{20 W} of 3.5 S. The 9 S component still bears bound nucleotides which exchange more extensively and rapidly with added nucleotides than those bound to the active 12.1 S component. The bound nucleotides are lost when the 9 S form dissociates into the smaller subunits. Thus, firm binding of nucleotides is a property of the quarternary structure of the enzyme. The exchangeability of the nucleotides bound to the ATPase of chloroplast membranes is greatly increased in membranes illuminated in the presence of pyocyanine. P_i can exchange into both the β and γ positions of the bound nucleotides when the membranes are energized in the presence of Mg²⁺. The exchange of the nucleotides and the incorporation of P_i are insensitive to the inhibitor Dio-9 but are inhibited by the uncoupler S₁₃.

1 Abbreviation: S₁₃, 5-chloro-3-t-butyl-2′-chloro-4′nitrosalicylanilide.

This inhibition by S₁₃ parallels that of the inhibition of photosynthetic phosphorylation. These findings are discussed with regard to our hypothesis that electron transfer causes release of preformed tightly bound ATP from the ATPase by inducing a conformational change.     

Biosynthesis of pyrimidine nucleotides in cultured root callus ofCucurbita pepo

Summary Callus cultures derived from roots of summer squash (Cucurbita pepo L. c.v. Early Prolific Straightneck) grown in the dark at 27° C on Murashige and Skoog medium supplemented per liter with 30 g sucrose, 100 mg myo-inositol, 10 mg indole-butyric acid, 2 mg glycine, 1 mg thiamin, 0.5 mg nicotinic acid, 0.5 mg pyridoxine, and 2 g Gelrite were capable of synthesizing pyrimidine nucleotides both de novo and through salvage of existing pyrimidine nucleotides and bases. Evidence that the de novo biosynthesis of pyrimidine nucleotides proceeded via the orotate pathway in this tissue included: (a) demonstration of the incorporation of NaH¹⁴CO₃ and [¹⁴C₆]orotic acid into uridine nucleotides (ΣUMP), and (b) demonstration that the addition of 6-azauridine blocked the incorporation of these two precursors into ΣUMP. The synthesis of pyrimidine nucleotides through the salvage of existing pyrimidine bases and ribosides was demonstrated by measuring the incorporation of [¹⁴C₂]uracil and [¹⁴C₂]uridine into ΣUMP. Salvage of both [¹⁴C₂]uracil and [¹⁴C₂]uridine was sensitive to inhibition by 6-azauridine or one of its metabolites. The orotic acid pathway for the de novo biosynthesis of pyrimidine nucleotides was demonstrated to be sensitive to end-product inhibition. Uridine, or one of its metabolites, inhibited the incorporation of NaH¹⁴CO₃, but not [¹⁴C₆]orotic acid, into ΣUMP. Evidence is presented suggesting that Aspartate carbomoyltransferase is the site of feedback control. This work was supported by the Citrus Research Center and Agricultural Experiment Station of the University of California, Riverside, CA. Submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements of the University of California for the Master of Science degree in botany (F-F.L.)     

Relationship between uridine kinase activity and rate of incorporation of uridine into acid-soluble pool and into RNA during growth cycle of rat hepatoma cells

Uridine kinase activity measured in cell-free extracts of Novikoff rat hepatoma cells grown in suspension culture fluctuates about 10 fold during the growth cycle of the cells. Maximum specific activity (units/10⁶ cells) is observed early in the exponential phase and then decreases progressively until the stationary phase. The rate of incorporation of uridine into the acid-soluble pool by intact cells fluctuates in a similar manner and both the rate of uridine incorporation by intact cells and the uridine kinase actvity of the cells increase several fold before cell division commences following dilution of stationary phase cultures with freshmedium. Regardless of the stage of growth, uridine is rapidly phosphorylated to the triphosphate level by the cells. The rates of incorporation of uridine into the nucleotide pool and into RNA by intact cells fluctuate in a similar manner during the growth cycle. However, evidence is presented that indicates that alterations in the rate of incorporation of uridine into RNA are not simply due to changes in the rate of phosphorylation of uridine, but are regulated independently. Inhibition of protein synthesis by treating cells with puromycin or actidione causes a marked inhibition of incorporation of uridine into RNA, but has little effect on the phosphorylation of uridine to UTP for several hours. Thus the depression of incorporation of uridine into RNA probably reflects a decrease in the rate of RNA synthesis as a result of inhibition of protein synthesis. Inhibition of RNA synthesis by treating cells with actinomycin D does not affect the rate of conversion of uridine to UTP and thus results in the accumulation of labeled UTP in treated cells.     

Cloning and sequencing the genes encoding uptake-hydrogenase subunits of Rhodocyclus gelatinosus

Summary Rhodocyclus gelatinosus grew photosynthetically in the light and consumed H₂ at a rate of about 665 nmol/min per mg protein. The uptake-hydrogenase (H₂ase) was found to be membrane bound and insensitive to inhibition by CO. The structural genes of R. gelatinosus uptake-H₂ase were isolated from a 40 kb cosmid gene library of R. gelatinosus DNA by hybridization with the structural genes of uptake-H₂ase of Bradyrhizobium japonicum and Rhodobacter capsulatus. The R. gelatinosus genes were localized on two overlapping DNA restriction fragments subcloned into pUC18. Two open reading frames (ORF1 and ORF2) were observed. ORF1 contained 1080 nucleotides and encoded a 39.4 kDa protein. ORF2 had 1854 nucleotides and encoded a 68.5 kDa protein. Amino acid sequence analysis suggested that ORF1 and ORF2 corresponded to the small (HupS) and large (HupL) subunits, respectively, of R. gelatinosus uptake-H₂ase. ORF1 was approximately 80% homologous with the small, and ORF2 was maximally 68% homologous with the large subunit of typical membrane-bound uptake-H₂ases.     

Effect of 4,6-Dinitro-o-sec-butylphenol on Phosphorus Accumulation and Incorporation in Tomato Leaf Disks

The accumulation and incorporation of externally applied P³² into ATP and the effect of 4,6-dinitro-o-sec-butylphenol (DNBP) on these processes was studied, using tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.) leaf disks.

P³² was, in most part, actively accumulated into leaf disks with time and was incorporated into ATP and other organic phosphates. DNBP inhibited both P³² accumulation and ATP generation. The amount of inhibition increased with time of incubation.

It is concluded that P³² accumulation is related to ATP generation. Even though DNBP greatly inhibits phosphorus accumulation, there is little or no effect on its retention.

DNBP has the ability to uncouple oxidative phosphorylation. Therefore, it is assumed that its inhibitory effect on phosphate accumulation and generation of high-energy phosphorus esters is related to its inhibition of oxidative phosphorylation.

A method is described which appears to be satisfactory to determine the relative amounts of ATP and ADP in leaf disks labeled with P³².

     

Effect of 2'-deoxyadenosine on thymidine utilization by tradescantia pollen grains

The uptake of ³H-thymidine into pollen grains of Tradescantia paludosa was studied in the presence of 2′-deoxyadenosine. 1) Millimolar deoxyadenosine caused an immediate inhibition of incorporation of ³H-thymidine into DNA extracted with hot trichloroacetic acid. 2) The radioactivity in acid-soluble derivatives of ³H-thymidine was examined by paper chromatography and, following incubation of pollen grains in the presence of millimolar deoxyadenosine, was found to be increased several-fold in ³H-deoxythymidine triphosphate. 3) The time-course of inhibition showed that the acid-soluble derivatives of ³H-thymidine accumulated initially at a rate unaffected by deoxyadenosine, despite the nearly complete inhibition of incorporation of ³H-thymidine into DNA. This is discussed in relation to possible mechanisms of inhibition by deoxyadenosine.     

The effect of atractyloside and carboxyatractyloside on adenine nucleotide translocation in mitochondria of Vigna sinensis (L.) Savi cv. seridó.

The translocation of adenine nucleotides into mitochondria isolated from hypocotyls of Vigna sinensis (L.) Savi cv. seridó is examined as a function of oxidative phosphorylation. When succinate is used as the oxidizable substrate, atractyloside (10 μm) and carboxyatractyloside (0.4 μm) maximally inhibit the respiration stimulated by 100 μm ADP. For lower concentrations of these substances, the degree of inhibition is greater when the inhibitor is added to a reaction mixture containing mitochondria in a state of active rather than passive respiration. Carboxyatractyloside, a tight binding inhibitor, appears to compete with ADP for the translocator, when examined with concentrations of ADP higher than 50 μm and of Carboxyatractyloside under 0.1 μm. Beyond these limits nonclassical kinetic effects are observed. These data are discussed in the context of models currently described.     

Inhibition by trifluoperazine of ATP synthesis and hydrolysis by particulate and soluble mitochondrial F1: Competition with H2PO 4 −

The effect of trifluoperazine (TFP) on the ATPase activity of soluble and paniculate F₁ATPase and on ATP synthesis driven by succinate oxidation in submitochondrial particles from bovine heart was studied at pH 7.4 and 8.8. At the two pH. TFP inhibited ATP hydrolysis. Inorganic phosphate protected against the inhibiting action of TFP. The results on the effect of various concentrations of phosphate in the reversal of the action of TFP on hydrolysis at pH 7.4 and 8.8 showed that H₂PO ₄ ^– is the species that competes with TFP. The effect of TFP on oxidative phosphorylation was studied at concentrations that do not produce uncoupling or affect the aerobic oxidation of succinate (<15M). TFP inhibited oxidative phosphorylation to a higher extent at pH 8.8 than at pH 7.4; this was through a diminution in theV _max, and an increase in theK _m for phosphate. Data on phosphate uptake during oxidative phosphorylation at several pH showed that H₂PO ₄ ^– is the true substrate for oxidative phosphorylation. Thus, in both synthesis and hydrolysis of ATP, TFP and H₂PO ₄ ^– interact with a common site. However, there is a difference in the sensitivity to TFP of ATP synthesis and hydrolysis; this is more noticeable at pH 8.8, i.e. ATPase activity of soluble F₁ remains at about 40% of the activity of the control in a concentration range of TFP of 40–100M, whereas in oxidative phosphorylation 14M TFP produces a 60% inhibition of phosphate uptake.     

Inhibition of nucleic acid synthesis in Ehrlich tumor cells by periodate-oxidized adenosine and adenylic acid

Periodate-oxidized adenosine and AMP were inhibitory to both RNA and DNA synthesis in Ehrlich tumor cells in culture. With periodate-oxidized adenosine, the inhibition of RNA synthesis paralleled the inhibition of DNA synthesis. Periodate-oxidized AMP, however, was more inhibitory to DNA synthesis than to RNA synthesis. With both compounds, there was a decrease in the conversion of [¹⁴C]cytidine nucleotides to [¹⁴C]deoxycytidine nucleotides in the acid-soluble pool. The borohy-dride-reduced trialcohol derivative of the periodate-oxidized adenosine compound was not inhibitory to DNA or RNA synthesis in the tumor cells. The incorporation of [³H]uridine into 28S and 18S ribosomal RNA was inhibited by both periodate-oxidized adenosine and AMP, but the incorporation of [³H]uridine in 45S, 5S, and 4S RNA was essentially unaffected by these compounds. Periodate-oxidized adenosine inhibited Ehrlich tumor cell growth in vivo.     

Effect of arabinosyl cytosine on the level of DNA polymerase and thymidine kinase activity in PHA-stimulated human tonsillar lymphocytes

Summary The effect of arabinosyl cytosine (ara-C) was studied on the uptake, phosphorylation and incorporation of ³H-thymidine in human tonsillar lymphocyte cultures is described along with its effect on the level of DNA polymerase and thymidine kinase activities induced by phytohaemagglutinin (PHA). Freshly isolated tonsillar lymphocytes are stimulated cells with a remarkably high activity of DNA polymerase a and thymidine kinase. During in vitro culture, these stimulated cells are transformed to the resting state with low DNA polymerase and thymidine kinase activity. However, a new DNA synthesising cycle can be induced by PHA with maximum at 48 h.10^–6 M ara-C inhibited the incorporation of ³H-thymidine by 90–95%. This inhibition may be reversed by rinsing the cells. The inhibition of the transport of ³H-thymidine seems to be only a consequence of the inhibitory effect of ara-C on the DNA polymerisation reaction, because at 10 °C, where DNA synthesis was arrested, ara-C does not influence the uptake and the phosphorylation of ³H-thymidine.Ara-C (10^–6 M) abolished also the PHA induced elevation of DNA polymerase a and thymidine kinase activities without influencing protein synthesis of the cell. This supports a coordinated regulation mechanism between DNA synthesis and the synthesis of enzymes involved in DNA replication.     

Short-Term Effects of Thyroid Hormones on Cytoskeletal Proteins Are Mediated by GABAergic Mechanisms in Slices of Cerebral Cortex from Young Rats

Thyroid hormones play important roles in brain function. However, few information is available about the effect of 3,5,3′-triiodo-l-thyronine (T₃) or thyroxine (T₄) on the in vitro phosphorylation of intermediate filament (IF) proteins from cerebral cortex of rats. In this study we investigated the involvement of GABAergic mechanisms mediating the effects of T₃ and T₄ on the in vitro incorporation of ³²P into IF proteins from cerebral cortex of 10-day-old male rats. Tissue slices were incubated with or without T₃, T₄, γ-aminobutiric acid (GABA), kinase inhibitors or specific GABA antagonists and ³²P-orthophosphate for 30 min. The IF-enriched cytoskeletal fraction was extracted in a high salt Triton-containing buffer and the in vitro ³²P incorporation into IF proteins was measured. We first observed that 1 μM T₃ and 0.1 μM T₄ significantly increased the in vitro incorporation of ³²P into the IF proteins studied through the PKA and PKCaMII activities. A similar effect on IF phosphorylation was achieved by incubating cortical slices with GABA. Furthermore, by using specific GABA antagonists, we verified that T₃ induced a stimulatory effect on IF phosphorylation through noncompetitive mechanisms involving GABA_A, beyond GABA_B receptors. In contrast, T₄ effects were mediated mainly by GABA_B mechanisms. In conclusion, our results demonstrate a rapid nongenomic action of T₃ and T₄ on the phosphorylating system associated to the IF proteins in slices of cerebral cortex of 10 day-old male rats and point to GABAergic mechanisms mediating such effects.     

METHYL MERCURY INHIBITION OF SYNAPTOSOME AND BRAIN SLICE PROTEIN SYNTHESIS: IN VIVO AND IN VITRO STUDIES

Subacute methyl mercury (MeHg) intoxication was induced in adult rats following the daily intragastric administration of 1 mg MeHg/100 g body weight. Decreased [¹⁴C]leucine incorporation into cerebral and cerebellar slice protein was found. Weight loss occurred during the latent and neurotoxic phases but pair feeding did not reveal a significant defect in amino acid incorporation into slice protein. There was no decline in synaptosome protein synthesis in vitro during the latent phase but a significant decline in cerebellar and cerebral synaptosome synthesis was found during the neurotoxic phase. MeHg in vitro inhibited cerebral slice and synaptosome protein synthesis at half maximal concentrations of 7.5 and 12.5 μM respectively. Inhibition of synthesis in synaptosomes was non-competitive with K₁ of 4 × 10^?6M. MeHg had no effect on [¹⁴C]leucine or [¹⁴C]proline uptake into synaptosomes. There was no significant inhibition of synaptosome basal ATPase or Na + K ATPase at concentrations of MeHg (12 μM) giving half maximal inhibition of protein synthesis. No preferential inhibition of the chloramphenicol (55S) or cycloheximide sensitive components of synaptosome fraction protein synthesis was found, suggesting that the inhibition is common to both mitochondrial and extramitochondrial protein synthesizing systems. Addition of nucleotides and/or atractylate failed to influence protein synthesis and did not reverse the MeHg inhibition. Mannitol, as a replacement for the predominant cation species of the incubation medium, gave 40% inhibition of protein synthesis in the control but protected against further inhibition by MeHg.     

Phosphatidylinositol turnover in mitogen-activated lymphocytes. Suppression by low-density lipoproteins

Low-density (LD) lipoproteins inhibit phytohaemagglutinin-enhanced turnover of phosphatidylinositol in human peripheral lymphocytes. Turnover was assessed by ³²P incorporation into phospholipids and by loss of ³²P from [³²P]phosphatidylinositol. Inhibition of lipid turnover by LD lipoproteins is not the result of a change in the amount of phytohaemagglutinin required for maximum cellular response. Neither phytohaemagglutinin nor LD lipoproteins influence ³²P incorporation into phosphatidylethanolamine and phosphatidylcholine during the first 60min after mitogenic challenge. The extent of inhibition of phosphatidylinositol turnover by LD lipoproteins depends on the concentration of LD lipoproteins present in the incubation medium: 50% of maximum inhibition occurs at a low-density-lipoprotein protein concentration of 33μg/ml and maximum inhibition occurs at low-density-lipoprotein protein concentrations above 100μg/ml. Phytohaemagglutinin stimulates ³²P incorporation into phosphatidylinositol, phosphatidylinositol phosphate and phosphatidylinositol bisphosphate. However, LD lipoproteins abolish ³²P incorporation into phosphatidylinositol without affecting incorporation into phosphatidylinositol phosphate and phosphatidylinositol bisphosphate. The ability of LD lipoproteins to inhibit phytohaemagglutinin-induced phosphatidylinositol turnover is mimicked by EGTA. Furthermore, inhibition of LD lipoproteins by phytohaemagglutinin-induced ³²P incorporation into phosphatidylinositol correlates directly with inhibition by LD lipoproteins of Ca²⁺ accumulation. These results suggest that Ca²⁺ accumulation and turnover of phosphatidylinositol are coupled responses in lymphocytes challenged by mitogens. The step in phosphatidylinositol metabolism that is sensitive to LD lipoproteins and, by inference, that is coupled to Ca²⁺ accumulation is release of [³²P]phosphoinositol from phosphatidylinositol.     

Inosine nucleosidase from Azotobacter vinelandii

An enzyme catalyzing the hydrolysis of purine nucleosides was found to occur in the extract of Azotobacter vinelandii, strain 0, and was highly purified by ammonium sulfate fractionation, DEAE-cellulose chromatography, hydroxylapatite chromatography and gel filtration on Sephadex G-150. A strict substrate specificity of the purified enzyme was shown with respect to the base components. The enzyme specifically attacked the nucleosides without amino groups in the purine moiety: inosine gave the maximum rate of hydrolysis and xanthosine was hydrolyzed to a lesser extent. The pH optimum of inosine hydrolysis was observed from pH 7 to 9, while xanthosine was hydrolyzed maximally at pH 7. The K _m values of the enzyme for inosine were 0.65 and 0.85 mM at pH 7.1 and 9.0, respectively, and the value for xanthosine was 1.2 mM at pH 7.1.Several nucleotides inhibited the enzyme: the phosphate portions of the nucleotides were suggested to be responsible for the inhibition by nucleotides. Although the inhibition of the enzyme by nucleotides was apparently non-competitive type with respect to inosine, allosteric (cooperative) binding of the substrate was suggested in the presence of the inhibitor. The physiological significance of the enzyme was discussed in connection with the degradation and salvage pathways of purine nucleotides.