Thymidylate synthetase activity in the Novikoff hepatoma

Cancer Res. 1976 Dec;36(12):4500-3.

Abstract

The mechanism by which injected methotrexate increases thymidylate synthetase activity in the Novikoff hepatoma has been studied. Folic acid injection causes a similar increase in enzyme activity in hepatoma after 16 hr but the action of folic acid and methotrexate is not additive. The increase in activity of thymidine 5'-phosphate synthetase in the hepatoma caused by methotrexate is not affected by actinomycin D, but is inhibited 50% by puromycin and 100% by cycloheximide. High-speed supernatent fraction prepared from hepatoma of animals treated with methotrexate has, initially, one-half the specific thymidine 5'-phosphate synthetase activity of untreated controls. Upon addition of increasing amounts of tetrahydrofolate, the specific enzyme activity in the supernatant fraction from the methotrexate-treated animals rises to double that of the controls. Puromycin added to homogenates of Novikoff hepatoma consistently increases enzyme activity by approximately 20%. One hypothesis consistent with these results and results reported by others is presented.

Publication types

  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / enzymology*
  • Cycloheximide / pharmacology
  • Dactinomycin / pharmacology
  • Folic Acid / pharmacology
  • Liver Neoplasms / enzymology*
  • Male
  • Methotrexate / pharmacology
  • Methyltransferases / metabolism*
  • Neoplasms, Experimental / enzymology
  • Puromycin / pharmacology
  • Rats
  • Tetrahydrofolates / pharmacology
  • Thymidylate Synthase / analysis
  • Thymidylate Synthase / metabolism*

Substances

  • Tetrahydrofolates
  • Dactinomycin
  • Puromycin
  • Folic Acid
  • Cycloheximide
  • Methyltransferases
  • Thymidylate Synthase
  • Methotrexate