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The metabolism of pyrimidine compounds by Tetrahymena pyriformis
Author(s) -
Wykes J. R.,
Prescott D. M.
Publication year - 1968
Publication title -
journal of cellular physiology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.529
H-Index - 174
eISSN - 1097-4652
pISSN - 0021-9541
DOI - 10.1002/jcp.1040720305
Subject(s) - tetrahymena pyriformis , pyrimidine , thymidine , deoxyuridine , uracil , biochemistry , dna , pyrimidine metabolism , dna synthesis , chemistry , pyrimidine analogue , deoxycytidine , biology , enzyme , tetrahymena , genetics , chemotherapy , purine , gemcitabine
The pyrimidine requirements for growth of T. pyriformis and for reversal of the growth inhibition caused by folate deprivation have been studied. The effects of thymidine and 5‐fluorodeoxyuridine have been shown to be quantitatively different from the effects of these compounds on growth and the rate of DNA synthesis in mammalian cells. Labelled nucleosides added to the medium have been found to be converted to the corresponding bases with the exception of deoxycytidine, which is first deaminated to deoxyuridine. As a result no deoxynucleosides other than thymidine specifically label DNA. The results allow deductions to be made concerning the enzymes involved in pyrimidine utilization by this organism. It is suggested that pyrimidine utilization is always channeled through uracil in the case of those compounds that can supply the pyrimidine requirement for growth.