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J Arendes

Publications and source records attributed to J Arendes.

33 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

Arabinosyl nucleosides. XII. Influence of arabino-furanosylthymine on growth of L5178y cells.

The antibiotic 1-beta-D-arabinofuranosylthymine (araThd) is a potent inhibitor of the growth of mouse lymphoma cells (L5178y). The ED50 concentration was found to be 9.8 muM. The cells die as a consequence of an unbalanced growth. The cytostatic activity of araThd can be abolished by coincubation with dThd and dUrd but not with Urd. At cytostatic concentrations araThd selectively blocks DNA synthesis; RNA- and protein synthesis are unaffected. Intracellularly araThd is rapidly phosphorylated to araTTP. This enzymic phosphorylation does not influence the synthesis of the naturally occuring, related triphosphate dTTP. AraTMP is incorporated into DNA during DNA synthesis; 1 mol of ara-TMP is incorporated/19,500 molecules of dTMP.

Arabinonucleosides↗

Arabinosyl nucleosides. XIII. Influence of arabinofuranosylthymine on DNA-, RNA- and protein-synthesizing systems in vitro.

The natural metabolite of the sponge Cryptotethya crypta, arabinofuranosylthymine (araThd), is intracellularly phosphorylated to araTTP. The present study demonstrates that araTTP inhibits both isolated DNA polymerases alpha and the DNA polymerase beta from L5178y cells competitively with respect to the analogous substrate dTTP. The affinity of araTTP is higher to the DNA polymerase alpha than to the DNA polymerase beta. The activity of mammalian DNA-dependent RNA polymerases I, II and III as well as the incorporation rate of a protein cellfree system is not affected by high doses of araTTP.

Arabinonucleosides↗

Degradation and intracellular phosphorylation of showdomycin.

The anti-tumor agent showdomycin is degraded in the presence of 0.05 M NH4HCO3 (pH 8.0) to a compound which carries a negatively charged group. Together with previous data (Darnall et al., 1967) it is suggested that ammonia causes a basic hydrolysis of the maleimide moiety under formation of a maleic acid-like compound. During this modification the C-glycosidic bond is not split. Intracellularly, in mouse lymphoma cells (L5178y), showdomycin is phosphorylated to showdomycintriphosphate, via the mono- and diphosphate stage.

Ammonia↗

Alterations of activities of ribonucleases and polyadenylate polymerase in synchronized mouse L cells.

The activities of the three known catabolic and the one anabolic polyadenylate enzymes have been determined in synchronized L5178y cells: endoribonuclease, exoribonuclease, 5'-nucleotidase and poly(A) polymerase (Mg2+-dependent). These four enzymes were found primarily in the nuclear fraction. The activity of poly(A) polymerase remains essentially constant during the transition from G1 to S phase. However, the poly(A) catabolic enzyme activities increase parallel with DNA synthesis; the endoribonuclease activity increases 4-fold during G1 to S phase, the exoribonuclease and the nucleotidase activities increasing 30-fold and 16-fold. During the S phase the poly(A)-degrading enzymes are far more active than the poly(A)-synthesizing activity of poly(A) polymerase. We conclude that in L5178y cells the poly(A)-degrading enzymes probably function in regulation of the post-transcriptional net-polyadenylation of heterogeneous nuclear RNA during the phase of DNA synthesis.

Cell Division↗

Species-specific aggregation factor in sponges. Sialyltransferase associated with aggregation factor.

The sialyltransferase (= glycoprotein-sialic acid transferase) was studied in the sponge Geodia cydonium, a mesozoan organism. The experiments were performed both in intact cellular and in isolated enzyme systems. It is shown, that desialylated cells show a lower aggregation potency than the controls. During aggregation enzymic sialylation of desialylated sponge cells occurs in the presence of an aggregation factor, which is associated with a high molecular weight particle. The sialylation process is temperature-dependent and can be inhibited by N-ethylmaleimide. Sialylation occurs predominantly at a distinct cell surface component, the aggregation receptor. The sialyltransferase was isolated and purified by the following steps: Sepharose 4B, CM-cellulose, Nonidet treatment, and Sephadex G-100. By this procedure the enzyme was purified 680-fold with a 31% yield. The sialyltransferase is originally associated with the high molecular weight particle also carrying the aggregation factor. In the last step the aggregation factor was separated from the sialyltransferase. The enzyme catalyzes the transfer of sialic acid from CMP-sialic acid to the desialylated aggregation receptor. The molecular weight of the sialyltransferase has been determined to be 52,000. Kinetic studies revealed no lag phase and a dependence on enzyme concentration. The purified transferase has a pH optimum of 7.75 and requires 200 mM NaCl for activity. No requirement for Mg2+ or Ca2+ could be observed. The reaction is inhibited by 10 micronM N-ethylmaleimide.

Animals↗

Filter paper disk techniques for assay of nucleotidase.

A DE filter disk technique for assaying the activity of nucleotidase is described. This method is based on the observation that nucleotides bind to the filters at 5 mM Tris-HCl (pH 7.8) while nucleosides do not. As parameter for the nucleotidase activity the decrease of bound nucleotides is determined. In parallel experiments the amount of the product (nucleoside) formed can be measured by DEAE Sephadex column chromatography. The filter disk technique can be applied for the determination of vmax and Km of a nucleotidase by using different ribonucleosidase monophosphate substrates.

Adenosine Monophosphate↗

Age-dependent gene induction in quail oviduct X. Alterations on the post-transcriptional level (enzymic aspect).

In quail oviducts the rate of synthesis of avidin, the biological end-point marker for the molecular events caused by progesterone, decreases with age. The cause of the reduced capacity of avidin induction has been studied on the molecular biological level polyadenylation of RNA which is one step in the process of post-transcriptional modification of heterogeneous nuclear RNA resulting in the formation of functional mRNA molecules. This novel approach was biochemically possible after the discovery of the poly(A) anabolic enzyme (poly(A) polymerase) and the two poly(A) catabolic enzymes (endoribonuclease IV and 5'-exoribonuclease). These enzymes are involved in the synthesis and degradation of the poly(A) segment of mRNA in vitro and most likely also in poly(A) metabolism in intact cell systems. Enzymatically controlled poly(A) metabolism of mRNA is regulated by the following interrelations: poly(A)-associated proteins and endoribonuclease IV; labilizing factor and poly(A)-associated proteins; 5'-exoribonuclease in cooperation with endoribonuclease IV and poly(A) polymerase. A close correlation between high levels of poly(A) catabolic enzymes and low rate of protein synthesis which was established in cell culture systems, seems also to be partially the biochemical cause for the reduced avidin synthesis in aging quail oviduct.

Aging↗

Age-dependent gene induction in quail oviduct. XI. Alterations on the post-transcriptional level (analytical aspect).

For the elucidation of the age-dependent reduction of avidin synthesis in the oviduct of quails studies on on the level of post-transcriptional modification of mRNA were performed. Incorporation of [3H] adenosine into mRNA is drastically reduced in senescent animals compared to adult animals. Double labeling of mRNA with [3H]-adenosine and [3H] uridine revealed that in the presence of actinomycin D the incorporation ratio adenosine/uridine into mRNA increases to higher values in the case of adult animals compared with the ratio determined for mRNA from senescent animals. These data support the assumption that in senescent animals the length of the poly(A) sequence on mRNA might be shorter. Because of the low efficiency of label incorporation into poly(A) in whole animals, a method for directly introducing a radioactive label in vitro into the isolated poly(A) was developed for the estimation of the length of the poly(A) segments. A randomly labeled product with no apparent degradation is achieved by methylation of poly(A) with [3H] dimethyl sulphate. Therefore the method is a powerful tool for the detection and size determination of small amounts of poly(A). Size determination of poly(A) from oviducts of adult and senescent quails by the methylation method revealed that in the case of senescent animals an increase in shorter poly(A) tracts can be detected. These results support the assumption that the age-dependent reduction of avidin synthesis is also caused by changes in the control mechanisms on the post-transcriptional level.

Aging↗

[Age-dependent gene induction in the quail oviduct. VIII. A survey of experimental data].

1974 we introduced the biological model of the progesterone-caused avidin biosynthesis in the quail oviduct for studies in the field of molecular gerontology. Using this model it is possible to determine quantitatively the biochemical events of the age-dependent reduction of the progesterone-caused gene-induction. In a series of experiments it was found that the main parameters of the age dependent reduction might be found on the level of transcription and post-transcription. Therefore the enzymic processes involved in the transcription of genetic information from the DNA to the heterogenous nuclear RNA as well as those processing this RNA species to mRNA are studied. During the progress in this field we could isolate and purify some enzymes (poly[A] nucleases) which are involved in the age-dependent "maturation" of mRNA. On the basis of the interrelation between the poly(A)-binding proteins and the specific poly(A) nucleases, an explanation of the age-dependent reduction of the progesteron-caused mRNA synthesis seems to be possible.

Aging↗