scholarly journals Action of dichlorobenzimidazole riboside on RNA synthesis in L-929 and HeLa cells.

1976 ◽  
Vol 69 (2) ◽  
pp. 229-240 ◽  
Author(s):  
I Tamm ◽  
R Hand ◽  
L A Caliguiri

5,6-Dichloro-1-beta-D-ribofuranosylbenzimidazole (DRB) inhibits RNA synthesis in L-929 cells (mouse fibroblast line) and HeLa cells (human epitheloid carcinoma line) within 2 min of addition of the compound to the medium. By removing DRB from the medium, the inhibition is promptly and completely reversed after treatment of cells for as long as 1 h or even longer. The inhibitory effect of DRB on the overall rate of RNA synthesis is similar in L and HeLa cells and is markedly concentration-dependent in the low dose range (5-20 muM or 1.6-6.4 mug/ml), but not as higher concentrations of DRB. At a concentration of 12 muM, DRB has a highly selective inhibitory effect on the synthesis of nuclear heterogenous RNA in L cells. At higher concentrations, there is also inhibition of 45 S ribosomal precursor RNA synthesis, but at all concentrations the effect on heterogeneous RNA synthesis in L cells in considerably greater than that on preribosomal RNA synthesis. In HeLa cells, too, DRB has a selective effect on heterogeneous RNA synthesis, but quantitatively the selectivity of action is somewhat less pronounced. In both L and HeLa cells, the inhibition of synthesis of nuclear heterogeneous RNA is incomplete even at very high concentrations of DRB (150 muM). Thus, while DRB is a selective inhibitor of nuclear heterogeneous RNA synthesis, not all such RNA synthesis is sensitive to inhibition. It is proposed that messenger precursor RNA synthesis may largely be sensitive to inhibition by DRB. In short-term experiments, DRB has no effect on protein synthesis in L or HeLa cells. DRB has a slight to moderate inhibitory effect on uridine uptake into L cells and a moderate to marked effect on uptake of uridine into HeLa cells.

1973 ◽  
Vol 59 (1) ◽  
pp. 150-164 ◽  
Author(s):  
T. Simmons ◽  
P. Heywood ◽  
L. Hodge

The restitution of RNA synthesis in cultures progressing from metaphase into interphase (G1) has been investigated in synchronized HeLa S3 cells by using inhibitors of macro-molecular synthesis and the technique of electron microscope autoradiography. The rate of incorporation of radioactive uridine into RNA approached interphase levels in the absence of renewed protein synthesis. In contrast, maintenance of this rate in G1 was dependent upon renewed protein synthesis. Restoration of synthesis of heterogeneous nuclear RNA occurred under conditions that inhibited production of ribosomal precursor RNA. In autoradiographs of individual cells exposed to radioactive uridine, silver grains were first detected after nuclear envelope reformation at the periphery of the chromosome mass but before chromosomal decondensation. These data are consistent with the following interpretation. Multiple RNA polymerase activities persist through mitosis and are involved in the initiation of RNA synthesis in early telophase at sites on the nuclear envelope.


1974 ◽  
Vol 144 (3) ◽  
pp. 447-453 ◽  
Author(s):  
J M Hill ◽  
G Ab ◽  
R A Malt

During the first 48h of compensatory renal hypertrophy induced by unilateral nephrectomy, RNA content per cell increased by 20–40%. During this period, rates of RNA synthesis derived from the rates of labelling of UTP and RNA after a single injection of [5-3H]uridine showed no change in the rate of RNA synthesis (3.1nmol of UTP incorporated into RNA/min per mg of RNA). ATP and ADP pools were not changed. The rate of RNA synthesis was considerably in excess of the increment of total RNA appearing in the kidneys. With [5-3H]uridine as label, only continuous infusion for 24h could produce an increase (60%) in the specific radioactivity of renal rRNA in mice with contralateral nephrectomies. With a single injection of [methyl-3H]methionine used to identify methyl groups inserted into newly synthesized rRNA, the specific radioactivity of this rRNA was unchanged 5h after contralateral nephrectomy, increased by 60% at 9–48h, and returned to normal values at 120h. Most RNA synthesized in both nephrectomized and sham-nephrectomized mice has a short half-life. Since total cellular RNA content increases in compensatory hypertrophy despite unchanged rates of rRNA synthesis, the accretion of RNA might involve conservation of ribosomal precursor RNA or a change in rate of degradation of mature rRNA.


1969 ◽  
Vol 41 (2) ◽  
pp. 510-520 ◽  
Author(s):  
Moshe Siev ◽  
Robert Weinberg ◽  
Sheldon Penman

Cordycepin is an analogue of adenosine lacking the 3'-OH. When incorporated into a growing RNA molecule, cordycepin prevents further elongation, thus producing a prematurely terminated RNA molecule. When HeLa cells are exposed to low concentrations of cordycepin, DNA and protein synthesis are unaffected during short exposure periods. The synthesis of completed ribosomal and ribosomal-precursor (45S) RNA is significantly depressed. Partially completed 45S ribosomal precursor molecules accumulate in the nucleolus. 18S ribosomal RNA can be cleaved from these incomplete precursors, while 32S ribosomal precursor cannot be produced from partially snythesized 45S molecules. The synthesis of transfer RNA is also reduced in the presence of cordycepin. The synthesis of the nuclear heterogeneous RNA species is unaffected by the drug while the cytoplasmic heterogeneous RNA is slightly reduced.


1971 ◽  
Vol 50 (3) ◽  
pp. 746-761 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stanley G. Sawicki ◽  
Gabriel C. Godman

Actinomycin D (AMD) at concentrations that inhibit cellular RNA synthesis by 85% or more causes an acute phase of lethal cell degeneration in HeLa cultures beginning as early as 3 hr after drug exposure, resulting in the nearly complete loss of viable cells by 12 hr. The loss of cells during this acute phase of lethality is closely dose dependent. Vero, WI38, or L cells are not susceptible to this early acute cyto-intoxication by AMD, and may begin to die only after 1–2 days. Differential susceptibility to acute cyto-intoxication by AMD, or other inhibitors of RNA synthesis (daunomycin or nogalamycin), among different types of cultured cells is analogous to that observed in vivo in certain tissues and tumors, and cannot be accounted for by differences in the effect of AMD on RNA, DNA, or protein syntheses, or by the over-all loss of preformed RNA. Actinomycin D in a dose that inhibits RNA synthesis causes an equivalent loss of the prelabeled RNA in all the cell types studied. Inhibition of protein synthesis with streptovitacin A or of DNA synthesis with hydroxyurea does not cause acute lethal injury in HeLa cells as does inhibition of RNA synthesis. Furthermore, since Vero or L cells divide at about the same rate as HeLa cells, no correlation can be drawn between the rate of cell proliferation and susceptibility to the cytotoxicity of AMD. Susceptibile cells are most vulnerable to intoxication by AMD in the G1-S interphase or early S phase. Inhibition of protein synthesis (which protects cells against damage by other agents affecting DNA) does not protect against AMD-induced injury. Although HeLa cells bind more AMD at a given dose than Vero or L cells, the latter cell types, given higher doses, can be made to bind proportionally more AMD without succumbing to acute cyto-intoxication. It is suggested that the differential susceptibility of these cell types to acute poisoning by AMD may reflect differences among various cells in the function or stability of certain RNA species not directly involved in translation whose presence is vital to cells. In HeLa cells, these critical species of RNA are presumed to have a short half-life.


1969 ◽  
Vol 114 (2) ◽  
pp. 289-298 ◽  
Author(s):  
E. H. Harley ◽  
K. R. Rees ◽  
A. Cohen

1. The cytotoxic effects of aflatoxin B1 on HeLa cells were examined and effects of short exposures of the cells to the toxin were found to be reversible. 2. Aflatoxin B1 inhibited the synthesis of both ribosomal and heterodisperse RNA. It is proposed that the toxin's mechanism of action on ribosomal RNA synthesis is related to its inhibitory effect on the maturation of the 45s-ribosomal-RNA precursor. 3. Protein synthesis is inhibited to a greater extent by aflatoxin B1 than by actinomycin D. In contrast with actinomycin D, aflatoxin B1 was shown to disaggregate polyribosomes directly.


1970 ◽  
Vol 47 (3) ◽  
pp. 734-744 ◽  
Author(s):  
Thoru Pederson ◽  
Elliott Robbins

Interphase HeLa cells manifest a stepwise shutoff of RNA synthesis when the tonicity of the extracellular medium is gradually increased. Synthesis of heterogeneous nuclear RNA is most sensitive and is selectively inhibited at 1.5 times isotonicity (450 milliosmols/liter), while 45S ribosomal RNA synthesis is not affected significantly below 2.0 times isotonicity. Transfer RNA synthesis is least sensitive to increased osmolarity and is not completely inhibited until the electrolyte concentration of the medium is elevated to 2.8 times isotonicity. Although the transcription and methylation of 45S ribosomal precursor is unaffected at 1.5 times isotonicity, there is pronounced impairment of its processing into 32S and 18S RNA. Using a refined cell synchronization technique, we have been able to compare these effects of hypertonicity with the shutoff of RNA synthesis which occurs during the G2-prophase interval of the cell division cycle. In this case, as with random cells in hypertonic medium, a selective inhibition of heterogeneous nuclear RNA synthesis and slowed processing of 45S ribosomal RNA were found, whereas synthesis of 45S and transfer RNA continued unabated throughout G2-prophase. While it is known that RNA synthesis essentially ceases during metaphase, we have noted that transfer RNA synthesis continues in metaphase at 10–15% of the interphase rate, which is of particular interest in view of the relative resistance of this species to hypertonicity. The close correlation between the patterns of cessation of RNA synthesis at mitosis and during exposure to hypertonic medium supports our earlier contention that alteration of intracellular electrolyte levels provides a useful model for studying the mechanism of mitosis.


1975 ◽  
Vol 150 (3) ◽  
pp. 335-344 ◽  
Author(s):  
P F Swann ◽  
A C Peacock ◽  
S Bunting

1. By 1h after administration of ethionine to the female rat the appearance of newly synthesized 18SrRNA in the cytoplasm is completely inhibited. This is not caused by inhibition of RNA synthesis, for the synthesis of the large ribosomal precursor RNA (45S) and of tRNA continues. Cleavage of 45S RNA to 32S RNA also occurs, but there was no evidence for the accumulation of mature or immature rRNA in the nucleus. 2. The effect of ethionine on the maturation of rRNA was not mimicked by an inhibitor of protein synthesis (cycloheximide) or an inhibitor of polyamine synthesis [methylglyoxal bis(guanylhydrazone)]. 3. Unlike the ethionine-induced inhibition of protein synthesis, this effect was not prevented by concurrent administration of inosine. A similar effect could be induced in HeLa cells by incubation for 1h in a medium lacking methionine. The ATP concentration in these cells was normal. From these two observations it was concluded that the effect of etionine on rRNA maturation is not caused by an ethionine-induced lack of ATP. It is suggested that ethionine, by lowering the hepatic concentration of S-adenosylmethionine, prevents methylation of the ribosomal precursor. The methylation is essential for the correct maturation of the molecule; without methylation complete degradation occurs.


2009 ◽  
Vol 2009 ◽  
pp. 1-4 ◽  
Author(s):  
Martin Schmidt ◽  
Seli Dzogbeta ◽  
Michael P. Boyer

The cholesterol-lowering drug fluvastatin (FS) has an inhibitory effect on the growth of the pathogenic yeastCandida albicansthat is dependent on the pH of the medium. At the low pH value of the vagina, FS is growth inhibitory at low and at high concentrations, while at intermediate concentrations (1–10 mM), it has no inhibitory effect. Examination of the effect of the common antifungal drug fluconazole in combination with FS demonstrates drug interactions in the low concentration range. Determination of intracellular stress and the activity of the FS target enzyme HMG-CoA reductase confirm our hypothesis that in the intermediate dose range adjustments to the sterol biosynthesis pathway can compensate for the action of FS. We conclude that the pH dependent uptake of FS across yeast membranes might make FS combination therapy an attractive possibility for treatment of vaginalC. albicansinfections.


1979 ◽  
Vol 80 (3) ◽  
pp. 767-772 ◽  
Author(s):  
J R Warner

The distribution of newly formed ribosomal proteins between cytoplasmic, nucleoplasmic, and nucleolar fractions of HeLa cells was determined. All but a few of the newly formed ribosomal proteins were concentrated 10- to 50-fold in the nucleolus and two- to fivefold in the nucleoplasm. Nevertheless, substantial amounts were found in the cytoplasm. Pretreatment of cells with actinomycin D to deplete the nucleolar pool of ribosomal precursor RNA had no effect on the concentration of newly formed ribosomal proteins in the nucleus, but did lead to an increased amount in the nucleoplasm at the expense of the nucleolus.


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