RNA synthesis in isolated HeLa cell nuclei.

RNA synthesis has been studied in isolated nuclei of HeLa cells. The incubation medium has been optimized for RNA synthesis and the requirements for the presence of specific components previously used by other investigators has been examined. Nuclei isolated by centrifugation through 2 M sucrose synthesize RNA linearly for at least 1 h only at low temperature (25 degrees C). Low molecular weight RNA is found in the supernatant fraction after incubation; this RNA accounts for about 10% of the RNA synthesized. The RNA which remains within nuclei is of high molecular weight and processing of this RNA into molecules of the size of cytoplasmic mRNA does not seem to occur in isolated nuclei. We have studied the effect of an inhibitor of protein-nucleic acid interaction - aurintricarboxylic acid - on RNA synthesis by isolated nuclei. At concentrations below 0.1 mM, this drug does not inhibit RNA synthesis effectively, whereas at concentrations above 0.1 mM it inhibits RNA synthesis by about 80%. In view of the proposed mechanism of action of aurintricarboxylic acid, we suggest that completion of nucleotide chains initiated before nuclei isolation accounts for 20% of the RNA synthesized in our system by isolated nuclei, whereas nucleotide chains initiated during the in vitro incubation account for 80% of the RNA synthesized.     

Protein synthesis in isolated cell nuclei

1. Nuclei prepared from calf thymus tissue in a sucrose medium actively incorporate labelled amino acids into their proteins. This is an aerobic process which is dependent on nuclear oxidative phosphorylation. 2. Evidence is presented to show that the uptake of amino acids represents nuclear protein synthesis. 3. The deoxyribonucleic acid of the nucleus plays a role in amino acid incorporation. Protein synthesis virtually ceases when the DNA is removed from the nucleus, and uptake resumes when the DNA is restored. 4. In the essential mechanism of amino acid incorporation, the role of the DNA can be filled by denatured or partially degraded DNA, by DNAs from other tissues, and even by RNA. Purine and pyrimidine bases, monoribonucleotides, and certain dinucleotides are unable to substitute for DNA in this system. 5. When the proteins of the nucleus are fractionated and classified according to their specific activities, one finds the histones to be relatively inert. The protein fraction most closely associated with the DNA has a very high activity. A readily extractable ribonucleoprotein complex is also extremely active, and it is tempting to speculate that this may be an intermediary in nucleocytoplasmic interaction. 6. The isolated nucleus can incorporate glycine into nucleic acid purines, and orotic acid into the pyrimidines of its RNA. Orotic acid uptake into nuclear RNA requires the presence of the DNA. 7. The synthesis of ribonucleic acid can be inhibited at any time by a benzimidazole riboside (DRB) (which also retards influenza virus multiplication (11)). 8. The incorporation of amino acids into nuclear proteins seems to require a preliminary activation of the nucleus. This can be inhibited by the same benzimidazole derivative (DRB) which interferes with RNA synthesis, provided that the inhibitor is present at the outset of the incubation. DRB added 30 minutes later has no effect on nuclear protein synthesis. These results suggest that the activation of the nucleus so that it actively incorporates amino acids into its proteins requires a preliminary synthesis of ribonucleic acid. 9. Together with earlier observations (27, 28) on the incorporation of amino acids by cytoplasmic particulates, these results show that protein synthesis can occur in both nucleus and cytoplasm.     

DNA replication in isolated HeLa cell nuclei

DNA replication was investigated in HeLa cell nuclei isolated from different phases of the cell cycle. DNA synthesis occurred only in S-phase nuclei and was dependent on the presence of the four deoxynucleoside triphosphates, Mg⁺⁺, ATP and S-phase cytoplasm. G₁-phase cytoplasm was unable to support such DNA synthesis. A purified preparation of calf thymus DNA polymerase, however, was able to replace S-phase cytoplasm in supporting ATP dependent DNA synthesis, which suggests that the S-phase cytoplasmic factor is a DNA polymerase. G₁-phase nuclei could under no conditions be stimulated to initiate DNA replication prematurely.     

DNA synthesis in HeLa cell nuclei isolated in a non-aqueous medium.

Nuclei were isolated from synchronized HeLa cells in the S-phase by a modification of the non-aqueous method described by Kirsch et al. (Science (1970) 168, 1592-1595). The method involved lyophilization of the cells, homogenization in non-aqueous glycerol and centrifugation in a gradient of 0-35% (w/w) 3-chloro-1,2-propanediol in glycerol. Such nucleic incorporated deoxyribonucleotides into DNA when incubated in an aqueous buffer containing Mg2+, ATP, dATP, dGTP, dCTP and dTTP. The product was sensitive to DNAase and banded with bulk DNA in isopycnic centrifugation. Sedimentation of the product in alkaline sucrose gradients after labelling of the nuclei for 2 min revealed labelled material in the 5 S peak and in the 18 S area. The material in the 5 S peak moved into the 12 S area after a 13 min chase.     

ADP-ribosyltransferase in isolated nuclei during the cell cycle of Physarum polycephalum.

ADP-ribosyltransferase was measured in isolated nuclei of Physarum polycephalum. Activity was determined with and without exogenous DNA and histones. During the synchronous cell cycle the activity measured with exogenous substrates exhibited a typical peak enzyme pattern with a maximum of activity in S-phase, whereas activity measured without exogenous substrates displayed a step enzyme pattern. Both activities doubled in each cell cycle.     

The effect of aphidicolin on DNA synthesis in isolated HeLa cell nuclei.

The effect of the inhibitor aphidicolin on DNA synthesis in isolated nuclei from HeLa cells and on the activities of partially purified DNA polymerases has been tested. Aphidicolin inhibited DNA synthesis and DNA polymerase alpha very efficiently whereas DNA polymerases beta and gamma were insensitive to the drug. The results indicate that DNA polymerase alpha is the polymerase active during elongation as well as in the gapfilling process of discontinuous DNA synthesis.     

Chromatin assembly in isolated mammalian nuclei.

Cellular DNA replication was stimulated in confluent monolayers of CV-1 monkey kidney cells following infection with SV40. Nuclei were isolated from CV-1 cells labeled with [3H]thymidine and then incubated in the presence of [alpha-32P]deoxyribonucleoside triphosphates under conditions that support DNA replication. To determine whether or not the cellular DNA synthesized in vitro was assembled into nucleosomes the DNA was digested in situ with either micrococcal nuclease or pancreatic DNase I, and the products were examined by electrophoretic and sedimentation analysis. The distribution of DNA fragment lengths on agarose gels following micrococcal nuclease digestion was more heterogeneous for newly replicated than for the bulk of the DNA. Nonetheless, the state of cellular DNA synthesized in vitro (32P-labeled) was found to be identical with that of the DNA in the bulk of the chromatin (3H-labeled) by the following criteria: (i) The extent of protection against digestion by micrococcal nuclease of DNase I. (ii) The size of the nucleosomes (180 base pairs) and core particles (145 base pairs). (iii) The number and sizes of DNA fragments produced by micrococcal nuclease in a limit digest. (iv) The sedimentation behavior on neutral sucrose gradients of nucleoprotein particles released by micrococcal nuclease. (v) The number and sizes of DNA fragments produced by DNase I digestion. These results demonstrate that cellular DNA replicated in isolated nuclei is organized into typical nucleosomes. Consequently, subcellular systems can be used to study the relationship between DNA replication and the assembly of chromatin under physiological conditions.     

RNA transport in isolated myeloma nuclei. Transport from membrane- denuded nuclei

Nuclei prepared from MOPC-21 cells were treated with the nonionic detergents Triton X-100 or Nonidet P-40. Chemical analysis revealed that nearly 90% of the nuclear phospholipid was removed by detergent treatment. The membrane-denuded nuclei remained intact with preservation of nuclear pore complexes as demonstrated by electron microscopy. Ribonucleic acid transport from detergent-treated nuclei proceeded at the same rate and to the same extent as in control nuclei. Normal nuclear restriction of nucleic acids was unaltered by removal of the nuclear membranes. The effect of temperature on transport of RNA from freshly isolated myeloma nuclei with intact nuclear envelopes was studied. No temperature transition was associated with the transport process. These data indicate that the transport of macromolecules from isolated myeloma nuclei is independent of the nuclear membrane.     

ADP-ribosyltransferase in isolated nuclei from sea-urchin embryos.

The activity of ADP-ribosyltransferase in nuclei isolated from sea-urchin embryos was estimated by the incorporation of [adenosine-14C]NAD+ into the acid-insoluble fraction. Hydrolysis of this acid-insoluble product by snake venom phosphodiesterase yielded radioactive 5'-AMP and phosphoribosyl-AMP. The incorporation of [14C]-NAD+ was inhibited by 3-aminobenzamide and nicotinamide, potent inhibitors of ADP-ribosyltransferase. [14C]NAD+ incorporation into the acid-insoluble fraction results from the reaction of ADP-ribosyltransferase. The optimum pH for the enzyme in isolated nuclei was 7.5. The enzyme, in 50 mM-Tris/HCl buffer, pH 7.5, containing 0.5 mM-NAD+ and 0.5 mM-dithiothreitol, exhibited the highest activity at 18 degrees C in the presence of 14 mM-MgCl2. The apparent Km value for NAD+ was 25 microM. The activity of the enzyme was measured in nuclei isolated from the embryos at several stages during early development. The activity was maximum at the 16-32-cell stage and then decreased to a minimum at the mesenchyme blastula stage. Thereafter its activity slightly increased at the onset of gastrulation and decreased again at the prism stage.