Ribosomal ribonucleic acid maturation in synchronous strain l cells

Summary The incorporation of [³H]-5-uridine into cytoplasmic 18S and 28S ribosomal ribonucleic acid (rRNA) was examined in Colcemid-synchronized strain L cells during G1 and S phases of the cell cycle in the presence of 5×10⁻⁵ m uridine, which was determined to be the saturating concentration for this system. The data show that in S phase a significant increase occurs in the level of [³H]-5-uridine incorporation into each rRNA species. During a 90-min exposure period, S phase cells incorporate 3.4 times as much [³H]-5-uridine into 18S rRNA and 1.9 times as much into 28S rRNA as do G1 cells. The time required for maturation of the ribosomal RNA species during G1 and during S phase is the same, with 18S rRNA appearing in the cytoplasm in 20 min and 28S rRNA in 40 min.     

Temperature dependent changes of cell growth parameters in Tetrahymena

Cytophotometric studies revealed gross amounts of RNA and protein to be negatively correlated with incubation temperature. The rate of [³H]-uridine incorporation into TCA-insoluble material of synchronously growing cells followed a cyclic pattern during the cell cycle and was correlated to the event of the S phase.     

Influence of mitoxantrone on nucleic acid synthesis on the T-47D breast tumor cell line

Mitoxantrone exerts growth inhibitory effects, suppresses [3H]-thymidine as well as [3H]-uridine incorporation, and induces ultrastructural alterations in T-47D human breast tumor cells. At low concentration (10(-9)M) the drug induced little effect on cell proliferation; cell growth kinetics were inhibited at a concentration of 10(-5)M. [3H]-thymidine and [3H]-uridine incorporation declined rapidly at the concentrations tested (10(-9), 10(-7), and 10(-5) M), revealing a potent effect on metabolic activity of the cultured cells. The sharpest decline in DNA and RNA synthesis occurred within the first 2 hr of drug treatment. Serial ultrastructural examinations indicated definitive alterations in chromatin structure, disintegration of nucleolar components as early as 2 hr after drug treatment, and complete segregation of nucleolar components following 8-hr exposure to concentrations of the drug between 10(-5) and 10(-7) M. A distinct increase in the density of mitochrondrial matrix was evident. The in vitro data presented in this report demonstrate the growth inhibitory and antimetabolic effects of mitoxantrone on human breast tumor cells and suggest that the drug may be a promising antitumor agent.     

Utilization of uridine for RNA synthesis in the insect cell line CP-1268 derived from the codling moth, Laspeyresia pomonella.

The utilization of [3H]-5-uridine by CP-1268 cells was studied. Uridine was rapidly transported into these cells by a concentration dependent, saturable process. Exogenous uridine rapidly equilibrated with cellular nucleotide pools and virtually all of the uridine transported into the cells was phosphorylated. Uridine incorporation into RNA was studied by continuous and pulse-labeling techniques in the prescence or absence of actinomycin D and cordycepin. These studies have shown that the pattern of unstable RNA precursor and relatively stable RNA product relationship known to exist in mammalian cells similarly exists in insect cells in vitro. This pattern varied markedly with pulse-labeling time and required the addition of RNA inhibitors to block reincorporation of intracellular labeled metabolites during the chase.     

Glycerol kinase activity and glycerol metabolism of rat granular pneumocytes in primary culture

Glycerol kinase activity and glycerol utilization by rat granular pneumocytes were determined in order to investigate the rate-limiting step for glycerol incorporation into lung lipids. Granular pneumocytes were isolated in primary culture following trypsinization of rat lungs. Glycerol kinase activity was 8.2 nmol/h per 10(6) cells. Incorporation of [1,3-14C]glycerol into total cell lipids was 0.29 nmol/h per 10(6) cells. In the presence of saturating glycerol concentration, production of 3H2O from [2-3H]glycerol was 13 times greater than incorporation of [14C]glycerol into lipids. Glycerol phosphate dehydrogenase activity in isolated cells was approximately 10 times glycerol kinase activity. In the presence of 5.6 mM glucose, glycerol incorporation into lipids was decreased 79% and detritiation of glycerol was decreased 34%. This effect of glucose was due to a 25% increase in cell glycerol 3-phosphate content, resulting in dilution of the precursor pool and possible inhibition of glycerol phosphorylation. These results indicate that the relatively limited incorporation of glycerol into surfactant phospholipids by lung epithelial cells reflects the relatively high rate of glycerol 3-phosphate oxidation.     

EFFECTS OF ADDED SUBSTANCES ON RNA AND PROTEIN SYNTHESIS IN IMMATURE NEURONS

Abstract— A newly described method for the isolation of morphologically intact neurons from newborn rat brain was used to study the influence of inhibitors and neuroactive substances on RNA and protein synthesis in these cells in vitro . Incorporation of [¹⁴C]-uridine into RNA and [³H]leucine into protein proceeded rapidly and continued up to 3 h. When the incorporation mixture was chased at 20 min with an excess of nonradioactive uridine and leucine, hardly any degradation of labelled RNA was noted during the following 2 h 40 min. In contrast, the specific radioactivity of proteins decreased by 22 per cent indicating turnover of cellular proteins.
Incorporation of labelled leucine into protein was markedly inhibited in the presence of NaF and cycloheximide but not affected in the presence of chloramphenicol or pancreatic RNase. A mixture of ATP + GTP depressed the incorporation by 38 per cent. The responses to ATP + GTP and RNase indicated that the incorporation system was typically cellular. Acetylcholine, γ-aminobutyrate, noradrenaline and phenylalanine in the incubation medium depressed the incorporation of labelled uridine into RNA by 10–30 per cent and 5-hydroxytryptamine by 75 per cent. Acetylcholine, γ-aminobutyrate and noradrenaline had no effect on protein synthesis, while 5-hydroxytryptamine and phenylalanine inhibited the incorporation by 60–80 per cent. Testosterone and prednisolone depressed both RNA and protein synthesis while thyroxine caused slight but non-significant stimulation.     

Tritium isotope effects in the measurement of the glycerol phosphate and dihydroxyacetone phosphate pathways of glycerolipid biosynthesis in rat liver

1. Rat liver slices were employed to study the relative rates of incorporation of a mixture of [2-(3)H]- or [1,3-(3)H]-glycerol and [1-(14)C]glycerol into lipids. 2. With 0.1mm-glycerol approx. 82% of the newly synthesized lipid, calculated from (14)C incorporation, was present as neutral lipid, 13% as phosphatidylcholine and 5% as phosphatidylethanolamine. Increasing the glycerol concentration to 40mm caused a decrease in the percentage of neutral lipid to 59% and a corresponding increase in the percentage of phosphatidylcholine to 36% of the newly synthesized lipid. 3. The (d.p.m. of 2-(3)H)/(d.p.m. of 1-(14)C) ratio in glycerolipid was considerably higher than that in precursor glycerol throughout the range of experimental conditions. In contrast the incorporation of a mixture of [1,3-(3)H]glycerol and [1-(14)C]glycerol into lipid occurred with little or no change in the (3)H/(14)C ratio. 4. Respiring rat liver mitochondria were found to oxidize a mixture of sn-[2-(3)H]- and sn-[1-(14)C]-glycerol 3-phosphate with a resultant increase in the (3)H/(14)C ratio of the remaining sn-glycerol 3-phosphate. This increase is due to a (3)H isotope effect of the mitochondrial sn-glycerol 3-phosphate dehydrogenase (EC 1.1.99.5), which discriminates against sn-[2-(3)H]glycerol 3-phosphate during oxidation. 5. A method is described for the simultaneous determination of the relative contributions of the glycerol phosphate and dihydroxyacetone phosphate pathways of glycerolipid biosynthesis in rat liver slices. The method involves measurement of the (d.p.m. of 2-(3)H)/(d.p.m. of 1-(14)C) ratio in both sn-glycerol 3-phosphate and glycerolipid after incubation of rat liver slices with a mixture of [2-(3)H]glycerol and [1-(14)C]glycerol for various times. 6. By using this method it was shown that 40-50% of the glycerol incorporated into lipid by rat liver slices proceeded via the sn-glycerol 3-phosphate pathway and 50-60% was incorporated via dihydroxyacetone phosphate.     

Utilization of uridine for RNA synthesis in the insect cell line CP-1268 derived from the codling moth,Laspeyresia pomonella

Summary The utilization of [³H]-5-uridine by CP-1268 cells was studied. Uridine was rapidly transported into these cells by a concentration dependent, saturable process. Exogenous uridine rapidly equilibrated with cellular nucleotide pools and virtually all of the uridine transported into the cells was phosphorylated. Uridine incorporation into RNA was studied by continuous and pulse-labeling techniques in the presence or absence of actinomycin D and cordycepin. These studies have shown that the pattern of unstable RNA precursor and relatively stable RNA product relationship known to exist in mammalian cells similarly exists in insect cells in vitro. This pattern varied markedly with pulse-labeling time and required the addition of RNA inhibitors to block reincorporation of intracellular labeled metabolites during the chase.     

A test system for the measurement of cellular RNA-synthesis in the human bone marrow]

A test for the cellular RNA-synthesis (incorporation of 3H-uridine in the RNA) of human bone marrow has been standardized with respect to the time of incorporation, the number of cells and the concentration of 3H-uridine. The following parameters were estimated for 500 microleter standard assay and 100 microleter aliquots for the determination of the radioactivity: time of incubation 80 min, number of nucleated cells 8 - 10(5), concentration of 3H-uridine 8,3 - 10(-6) M. Actinomycin D inhibits the RNA-synthesis to 90% in a concentration of 1.2 - 10(2) microgram/ml. The test appears generally applicable for the determination of the vitality of bone marrow after cryopreservation, the testing of cryoprotectants and haematotoxic substances and the control of the reaction of the bone marrow during chemical- or irradiation treatment of tumors.     

Autoradiographic study of RNA synthesis in adrenal cells of the young rat in primary culture

Primary cultures of young rat adrenal cells were used in a radioautographic study of the effect of ACTH on RNA synthesis. Control and ACTH-stimulated cultures were incubated with 5.6 [3H]-uridine for 30 min and chased for 15 and 30 min. Labelling over nucleolar and extranucleolar areas was always lower in the ACTH-stimulated animals at all experimental times. At 30 min chase-time a relatively high labelling of nuclei in both experimental conditions suggest the slow metabolism of RNA in adrenal. The results confirm the inhibitor effect of adrenocorticotrophin on [3H]-uridine incorporation.     

Studies on the Growth in Culture of Plant Cells: XV. UPTAKE AND UTILIZATION OF URIDINE DURING THE GROWTH OF ACER PSEUDOPLATANUS L. CELLS IN SUSPENSION CULTURE

[2-¹⁴C]-uridine is rapidly taken up by sycamore cells in suspensionculture. A proportion of the radioactivity enters RNA withoutmeasurable delay, whilst the remainder equilibrates with a largepool of phosphorylated compounds, the major radioactive componentof which is 5'-UMP. Both the uracil and cytosine residues ofRNA receive label from [¹⁴C]-uridine and, when the cells aresupplied with high concentrations of uridine, these bases arederived almost exclusively from the nucleoside. [¹⁴C]-uridine is incorporated into RNA at all stages of thegrowth cycle of batch cultures; its continuing incorporation,when the total RNA content of the cells is rapidly decreasing,indicates a high rate of turnover of the total RNA. Long-termlabelling experiments also indicate turnover of RNA during thephase of active cell division and suggest that a large proportionof the degradation products are not re-utilized for RNA synthesis. Sycamore cells degrade [2-¹⁴C]-uridine with release of ¹⁴CO₂.The proportion degraded increases from 25 per cent at an externaluridine concentration of 10^–6M to 75 per cent at 10^–3M. Despite this, nucleic acids are the only macromolecules thatreceive a significant amount of radioactivity from [2-¹⁴]C-uridine.     

Effects of adenosine 3':5'-monophosphate and related agents on ribonucleic acid synthesis and morphological differentiation in mouse neuroblastoma cells in culture.

A variety of compounds were assessed for their ability to induce morphological differentiation and to affect the synthesis of RNA in uncloned mouse neuroblastoma cells in culture. The stimulation of morphological differentiation in uncloned cells after exposure for 48 hours to concentrations of 3 times 10-7 to 3 times 10-4 M papavarine or 10-9 to 10-3 M dibutyryl adenosine 3':5'-monophosphate (dibutyryl-cAMP) was associated, in part, with a concentration-dependent decrease in incorporation of [5-3H]uridine into ribosomal RNA (rRNA) and heterogeneous RNA (HnRNA). The latter effect on cellular RNA produced by papavarine occurred within 1 hour after its addition to the medium and was associated with impaired uptake of radioactive precursor into uridine nucleotides and reduction in the intracellular concentration of uridine 5'-triphosphate (UTP). Dibutytyl-cAMP produced a decreased in the specific radioactivity of UTP without affecting the concentration of UTP in the tumor cells. The effects of papavarine and dibutyryl-cAMP could be distinguished further by the 50% reduction of acetylcholinesterase activity produced by papavarine, but not by dibutyryl-cAMP. Papavarine did not, however, reduce the cellular level of the soluble enzyme, adenine phosphoribosyltransferase. Sodium butyrate, while producing morphological effects similar to those of papavarine and dibutyryl-cAMP at equimolar concentrations, caused no significant changes in the incorporation of [5-3H]uridine into rRNA and HnRNA; however, acetylcholinesterase activity was stimulated 6- to 7-fold above control levels. In contrast to the other differentiating agents examined, addition of 10-9 to 3 times 10-4 M concentrations of cAMP to the tissue culture medium enhanced morphological differentiation of nueroblastoma cells, and caused a 10- to 20-fold stimulation of the incorporation of [5-3H]uridine into rRNA and HnRNA at concentrations of 10-4 M and higher. This effect observed only at high concentrations of cyclic nucleotide was accompanied by an elevation in the specific acitivty of UTP, These studies suggest that the morphological response of neuroblastoma cells is not necessarily associated with concomitant alterations in the synthesis of RNA with agents other than cAMP. Observed changes in incorporation of [5-3H]uridine into RNA appear in most instances to be due to alterations in the uptake of uridine, and in the pool size and specific radioactivity of UTP.     

Specific incorporation of 5-hydroxy-6,8,11,14-eicosatetraenoic acid into phosphatidylcholine in human endothelial cells

The incorporation of hydroxyeicosatetraenoic acids (HETEs) into cellular lipids was studied in cultures of human umbilical vein endothelial cells. 5-[3H]HETE was incorporated into the phospholipids (8%) and neutral lipids (15.5%). The uptake was at half maximum after 15 min and reached a plateau after 1 h. The incorporation occurred mainly into phosphatidylcholine (6.3%) with minimal uptake into phosphatidylserine and phosphatidylinositol (0.6%) or phosphatidylethanolamine (1.2%). There was no uptake of 12-[3H]HETE, 15-[3H]HETE or [3H]leukotriene B4 into phospholipids. Treatment of the phosphatidylcholine fraction with phospholipase A2 released 64% of the 5-[3H]HETE with 26% remaining in the lysophosphatidylcholine fraction. This indicates that the majority of the 5-HETE was in the sn-2 position. Unlabeled 5-HETE and arachidonic acid inhibited the uptake of 5-[3H]HETE into phosphatidylcholine with an ID50 of 2.5 and 1.25 microM, respectively. Stearic acid and 15-HETE were not effective inhibitors. Histamine, which activates phospholipases, increased the uptake of 5-[3H]HETE into phosphatidylcholine by 3-fold. Both 5-[3H]HETE and 12-[3H]HETE were incorporated into the neutral lipids of the cells. Analysis of the neutral lipid fraction revealed that 5-[3H]HETE was incorporated into mono-, di- and triacylglycerols but not cholesterol esters. Incorporation of 5-HETE into cellular lipids reduced histamine- and arachidonic acid-stimulated synthesis of 6-ketoprostaglandin F1 alpha and prostaglandin E2 in a concentration-related manner. Angiotensin I converting enzyme activity was not changed. Thus, 5-HETE is incorporated specifically into phosphatidylcholine and glycerol esters of human endothelial cells and this incorporation inhibits prostaglandin synthesis in these cells.     

Effect of various concentrations of prolactin and growth hormone on the magnitude of stimulation of RNA synthesis, casein synthesis and ornithine decarboxylase activity in mouse mammary gland explants

The effects of various concentrations of prolactin and growth hormone on the rates of [3H]-uridine incorporation into RNA, [3H]-leucine incorporation into casein, and ornithine decarboxylase (ODC) activity were determined in mouse mammary gland explants. The lowest concentrations of prolactin which produced significant responses were between 5 and 25 ng/ml. Growth hormone, in contrast, produced significant response at concentrations between 250 and 1,000 ng/ml. The prolactin actions on RNA and casein synthesis were essentially all-or-none type responses, i.e. the magnitude of the responses were maximal at about 10 ng/ml prolactin. The action of prolactin on ODC activity was quite different; a concentration-response relationship was observed with prolactin at concentrations from 10 t 250 ng/ml. It is apparent from these studies that different concentrations of prolactin are required to produce optimal actions on different biochemical parameters in cultured mammary tissues.     

Bile acids inhibit secretion of very low density lipoprotein by rat hepatocytes

The influence of taurocholate on very low density lipoprotein (VLDL) triacylglycerol synthesis and secretion was studied by isolated rat liver-parenchymal cells. The incorporation of [3H]glycerol into cell-associated and VLDL triacylglycerols were measured after incubation in medium containing 0.75 mM oleate. Taurocholate caused a maked decrease in VLDL [3H]triacylglycerol secretion from the hepatocytes: 50-150 microM taurocholate inhibited secretion of VLDL [3H]triacylglycerols by 70-90%. Similar results were obtained when the mass of secreted VLDL triacylglycerols was measured. Taurocholate caused a decreased secretion of VLDL [3H]triacylglycerols after 15-30 min incubation. A higher amount of cellular triacylglycerols was found in taurocholate-supplemented cells. Furthermore taurocholate did not change the intracellular lipolysis of triacylglycerols. These results suggest that bile acids interfere more probably with the assembly and/or secretion of VLDL-particles and not with earlier stages of VLDL formation, e.g. triacylglycerol synthesis.     

Enzymic activity in rat uterus during early pregnancy.

Total protein, RNA and DNA content and the activity of acid and alkaline phosphatases, 5'-nucleotidase and isocitrate dehydrogenase were studied in rat uterus during the first 8 days of pregnancy. Isocitrate dehydrogenase activity showed marked fluctuations from day to day. Nucleotidase and acid phosphatase activities showed a significant increase on day 8. The most marked change in activity was that of alkaline phosphatase which showed a 10-fold increase between days 6 and 8, due largely to an increase in the activity of this enzyme in the decidual nodule. The rise in alkaline phosphatase activity did not occur in rats ovariectomized on days 1, 2 or 4 of pregnancy and was markedly decreased in those ovariectomized on day 6. [3H]-uridine incorporation into RNA showed a significant increase between days 2 and 6 whereas [3H]-thymidine incorporation into DNA showed a significant increase on day 6.     

The synthesis of phosphatidylcholine by adult rat lung alveolar type II epithelial cells in primary culture

1. The formation of phosphatidylcholine from radioactive precursors was studied in adult rat lung alveolar type II epithelial cells in primary culture. 2. The incorporation of [Me-14C]choline into total lipids and phosphatidylcholine was stimulated by addition of palmitate, whereas the incorporation of [U-14C]glucose into phosphatidylcholine and disaturated phosphatidylcholine was stimulated by addition of choline. Addition of glucose decreased the absolute rate of incorporation of [1(3)-3H]glycerol into total lipids, phosphatidylcholine and disaturated phosphatidylcholine, decreased the percentage [1(3)-3H]glycerol recovered in phosphatidylcholine, but increased the percentage phosphatidylcholine label in the disaturated species. 3. At saturating substrate concentrations, the percentages of phosphatidylcholine radioactivity found in disaturated phosphatidylcholine after incubation with [1-(14)C]acetate (in the presence of glucose) [1-(14)C]palmitate (in the presence of glucose), [Me-14C]choline (in the presence of glucose and palmitate) and [U-14C]glucose (in the presence of choline and palmitate) were 78, 75, 74 and 90%, respectively. 4. Fatty acids stimulated the incorporation of [U-14C]glucose into the glycerol moiety of phosphatidylcholine. The degree of unsaturation of the added fatty acids was reflected in the distribution of [U-14C]glucose label among the different molecular species of phosphatidylcholine. It is suggested that the glucose concentration in the blood as related to the amount of available fatty acids and their degree of unsaturation may be factors governing the synthesis of surfactant lipids.     

Incorporation of exogenous precursors into uridine and ribonucleic acid. Nucleotide compartmentation in the renal cortex in vivo

The possibility of compartmentation of UTP in vivo was investigated in the renal cortex of unanaesthetized rats. In addition, liver and spleen were studied in order to compare tissues with different utilization of precursors for pyrimidine nucleotide synthesis. After continuous 2h infusions of [(3)H]uridine or [(3)H]orotate, their incorporation into UTP, UDP-sugars and RNA was quantified. Rates of RNA synthesis were calculated by dividing the incorporation of precursor into RNA by the average specific radioactivity of the UTP pool. Although similar RNA-synthesis rates might have been expected with the two precursors, higher rates were found with uridine than with orotate. The relative incorporation into UDP-sugars of these precursors was also different. Similar results were obtained in the liver. In the spleen, equal amounts of both precursors were incorporated into UTP, but [(3)H]orotate incorporation did not lead to labelling of RNA. To evaluate the heterogeneity of cells with respect to the metabolism of pyrimidines, precursor incorporation was studied in isolated glomeruli and by radioautography. Incorporation into glomeruli was qualitatively similar to but quantitatively different from results in the renal cortex. Although there is obvious tissue heterogeneity, compartmentation of UTP pools is the most credible explanation for the results obtained with the renal cortex and liver. Consequently RNA and UDP-sugars may originate from two different UTP pools. Tissue heterogeneity is the likely explanation for the results obtained in the spleen. Studies of synthesis of pyrimidine and RNA, particularly in relation to growth and regeneration, must take into consideration the precursor used, the apparent existence of UTP compartmentation and the degree of cellular heterogeneity.     

Arachidonic acid incorporation in cardiomyocytes,endothelial cells and fibroblast-like cells isolated from adult rat heart

The incorporation of radiolabeled arachidonic acid (3[H]-AA) in normoxic cardiomyocytes (MC), cardiac endothelial cells (EC) and fibroblast-like cells (FL) isolated from adult rat heart was studied. Deposition of 3[H]-AA in the cellular lipid pool was assessed with biochemical and autoradiographic techniques. Extraction and subsequent analysis of lipids from the three different cell types revealed that MC contained significantly more triacylglycerols than EC and FL. The proportion of (unlabeled) AA was also higher in MC triacylglycerols than in EC and FL. The quantity of phospholipids did not differ among the three cell types studied. However, the content of (unlabeled) AA in the MC phospholipid pool was twice as high as in EC and FL. The amount of 3[H]-AA incorporated in the cellular lipid pool of MC, EC and FL depended on the concentration of AA in the incubation medium and the incubation time. In EC and FL incorporation of 3[H]-AA was highest in the cellular phospholipid pool (0.01 microM AA, 30 min incubation). With increased concentration of AA and longer incubation times, the cellular triacylglycerol pool became more important as site of 3[H]-AA incorporation. In MC, comparable amounts of 3[H]-AA were incorporated in the cellular triacylglycerol and phospholipid pools (0.01 and 1 microM AA). At higher AA concentrations (10 microM) the triacylglycerol pool was the preferred site of 3[H]-AA deposition. Autoradiographic analysis at the light microscopic level revealed that the extra-nuclear space was readily stained when the three cell types were incubated with 3[H]-AA. These findings indicate that all cellular lipid pools and membranes are most likely site of deposition of radiolabeled arachidonic acid.