Biphasic increase in ornithine decarboxylase and its relationship with thymidine kinase and DNA synthesis in liver: Effects of dietary protein and amino acid mixture

In rats, feeding protein free diet for 4 days followed by starvation and then high protein diet induced a biphasic ornithine decarboxylase (EC 4.1.1.17) activity, prolonged thymidine kinase (EC 2.7.1.21) activity and DNA synthesis. In contrast feeding a diet containing casein-equivalent amino acid mixture induced a monophasic ornithine decarboxylase activity, short-lived thymidine kinase activity and DNA synthesis. To maintain prolonged thymidine kinase activity and DNA synthesis high protein diet must be given in the early part of the prereplicative period.