Premium
A possible involvement of polyamines in the initiation of DNA synthesis by human WI‐38 and mouse BALB/3T3 cells
Author(s) -
Boynton A. L.,
Whitfield J. F.,
Isaacs R. J.
Publication year - 1976
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.1040890313
Subject(s) - spermidine , spermine , putrescine , dna synthesis , biology , cell cycle , dna , biochemistry , microbiology and biotechnology , 3t3 cells , wi 38 , cell culture , cell , enzyme , transfection , genetics , ploidy , gene
Abstract Changing the medium, or adding fresh serum, induces a large proportion of the proliferatively quiescent cells in confluent monolayers of human WI‐38 and mouse BALB/3T3 cells to initiate a growth‐division cycle. Exposure at the time of the medium change or serum addition to MGBG (methyl glyoxal bis [guanylhydrazone]), an inhibitor of spermidine and spermine synthesis and function, reduces or stops the subsequent flow of cells into the DNA‐synthetic phase, without grossly affecting RNA synthesis. Mediation of MGBG action by an actual or functional shortage of spermidine or spermine (but not putrescine), and consequently an involvement of these polyamines in DNA synthesis, is strongly suggested by the reduction of the inhibitor's effectiveness by a brief (1‐hour), early prereplicative exposure of the treated cells to exogenous spermidine and spermine (but not putrescine).