Formation of thymidine kinase and deoxycytidylate deaminase in synchronized cultures of chinese hamster cells temperature-sensitive for DNA synthesis

Identification of a 70-base-pair cell cycle regulatory unit within the promoter of the human thymidine kinase gene and its interaction with cellular factors

The promoter of the human thymidine kinase gene contains cis-regulatory elements responsible for its cell-cycle-regulated expression. We report here that a 70-bp region between -133 and -64 is sufficient to confer cell cycle regulation on a heterologous promoter. The 20-bp region between -64 and -83, which contains an inverted CCAAT motif, is important for transcriptional stimulation of this functional unit. The sequence of this CCAAT motif is nearly identical to the consensus sequence for the transcriptional factor CP1. We also examined the specificity and binding activities of cellular factors interacting with the 70-bp fragment. We showed that the cellular factors binding to the 70-bp region are similar during the G1, S, and G2 phases, suggesting that the cell cycle regulatory activity observed must involve processes other than factor binding to the DNA.

Identification of a 70-base-pair cell cycle regulatory unit within the promoter of the human thymidine kinase gene and its interaction with cellular factors

The promoter of the human thymidine kinase gene contains cis-regulatory elements responsible for its cell-cycle-regulated expression. We report here that a 70-bp region between -133 and -64 is sufficient to confer cell cycle regulation on a heterologous promoter. The 20-bp region between -64 and -83, which contains an inverted CCAAT motif, is important for transcriptional stimulation of this functional unit. The sequence of this CCAAT motif is nearly identical to the consensus sequence for the transcriptional factor CP1. We also examined the specificity and binding activities of cellular factors interacting with the 70-bp fragment. We showed that the cellular factors binding to the 70-bp region are similar during the G1, S, and G2 phases, suggesting that the cell cycle regulatory activity observed must involve processes other than factor binding to the DNA.

Polyamine metabolism and cell-cycle-dependent gene expression in IMR-90 human diploid fibroblasts during senescence in culture

Aging of IMR-90 human diploid fibroblasts in culture is accompanied by specific changes of polyamine metabolism including: (a) a fivefold decrease of serum-induced activity of ornithine decarboxylase (ODC1 EC 4.1.1.17); (b) a six to tenfold increase of polyamine catabolism; and (c) a reduction of putrescine uptake. These changes apparently led to a significant reduction of putrescine accumulation in senescent cells following serum stimulation. Since the induction of ODC is a mid-G1 event, the change of polyamine metabolism may be related to changes of expression of other cell-cycle-dependent genes during cellular aging. In addition to ODC gene, we have examined the expression of two early G1 genes, c-erbB and c-myc, and one late G1/S gene thymidine kinase, at mRNA levels, in both young and old IMR-90 cells. We have also compared the enzyme activities of two late G1/S genes, thymidine kinase and thymidylate synthetase, in young and old cells following serum stimulation. We did not observe significant changes of c-erbB, c-myc, and ODC mRNA levels during cellular senescence. However, we found that serum-induced mRNA level of thymidine kinase gene in old IMR-90 cells was significantly reduced compared to that in the young cells. Results also demonstrate that aging of IMR-90 cells was accompanied by significant decrease of both thymidine kinase and thymidylate synthetase activities. In view of the recognized importance of polyamines in growth regulation, it is possible that alteration of polyamine metabolism may contribute to the impairment of expression of some key G1/S genes and such impairment may contribute to the ultimate loss of dividing potential in senescent cells.

Sequences contained within the promoter of the human thymidine kinase gene can direct cell-cycle regulation of heterologous fusion genes

Recent evidence on the transcriptional regulation of the human thymidine kinase (TK) gene raises the possibility that cell-cycle regulatory sequences may be localized within its promoter. A hybrid gene that combines the TK 5' flanking sequence and the coding region of the bacterial neomycin-resistance gene (neo) has been constructed. Upon transfection into a hamster fibroblast cell line K12, the hybrid gene exhibits cell-cycle-dependent expression. Deletion analysis reveals that the region important for cell-cycle regulation is within -441 to -63 nucleotides from the transcriptional initiation site. This region (-441 to -63) also confers cell-cycle regulation to the herpes simplex virus thymidine kinase (HSVtk) promoter, which is not expressed in a cell-cycle manner. We conclude that the -441 to -63 sequence within the human TK promoter is important for cell-cycle-dependent expression.

Control of thymidine kinase mRNA during the cell cycle

To investigate the mechanism which controls the onset of DNA synthesis, we examined the regulation of thymidine kinase (TK) and its mRNA in the cell cycle. TK activity provides a useful marker for the onset of the S phase in mammalian cells. The present analysis of regulation of TK mRNA in BALB/c 3T3 cells showed that (i) the increase in TK activity depended on the availability of TK mRNA, (ii) the level of TK mRNA between G0 and S increased more than 20-fold, (iii) the rate of run-on TK transcription increased at most 2- to 4-fold between the G0 and S phases, (iv) the half-life of TK mRNA was greater than 8 to 12 h in the S and M phases and decreased as cells entered quiescence, (v) the TK mRNA increase was fully blocked by inhibition of protein synthesis by only 60%, (vi) this inhibition was completely effective for up to about 10 h following serum addition and progressively much less effective when the drugs were added later. These results suggest that the appearance of TK mRNA at the beginning of the S phase in serum-stimulated 3T3 cells is controlled not only by the rate of gene transcription but importantly also by the decreased rate of mRNA degradation. Similar mechanisms may be involved in regulation of the onset of DNA synthesis and the increase in TK mRNA since both are controlled in a manner consistent with a requirement for a labile protein.

Control of thymidine kinase mRNA during the cell cycle

To investigate the mechanism which controls the onset of DNA synthesis, we examined the regulation of thymidine kinase (TK) and its mRNA in the cell cycle. TK activity provides a useful marker for the onset of the S phase in mammalian cells. The present analysis of regulation of TK mRNA in BALB/c 3T3 cells showed that (i) the increase in TK activity depended on the availability of TK mRNA, (ii) the level of TK mRNA between G0 and S increased more than 20-fold, (iii) the rate of run-on TK transcription increased at most 2- to 4-fold between the G0 and S phases, (iv) the half-life of TK mRNA was greater than 8 to 12 h in the S and M phases and decreased as cells entered quiescence, (v) the TK mRNA increase was fully blocked by inhibition of protein synthesis by only 60%, (vi) this inhibition was completely effective for up to about 10 h following serum addition and progressively much less effective when the drugs were added later. These results suggest that the appearance of TK mRNA at the beginning of the S phase in serum-stimulated 3T3 cells is controlled not only by the rate of gene transcription but importantly also by the decreased rate of mRNA degradation. Similar mechanisms may be involved in regulation of the onset of DNA synthesis and the increase in TK mRNA since both are controlled in a manner consistent with a requirement for a labile protein.

Sequence and expression of the dCMP deaminase gene (DCD1) of Saccharomyces cerevisiae

The dCMP deaminase gene (DCD1) of Saccharomyces cerevisiae has been isolated by screening a Sau3A clone bank for complementation of the dUMP auxotrophy exhibited by dcd1 dmp1 haploids. Plasmid pDC3, containing a 7-kilobase (kb) Sau3A insert, restores dCMP deaminase activity to dcd1 mutants and leads to an average 17.5-fold overproduction of the enzyme in wild-type cells. The complementing activity of the plasmid was localized to a 4.2-kb PvuII restriction fragment within the Sau3A insert. Subcloning experiments demonstrated that a single HindIII restriction site within this fragment lies within the DCD1 gene. Subsequent DNA sequence analysis revealed a 936-nucleotide open reading frame encompassing this HindIII site. Disruption of the open reading frame by integrative transformation led to a loss of enzyme activity and confirmed that this region constitutes the dCMP deaminase gene. Northern analysis indicated that the DCD1 mRNA is a 1.15-kb poly(A)+ transcript. The 5' end of the transcript was mapped by primer extension and appears to exhibit heterogeneous termini. Comparison of the amino acid sequence of the T2 bacteriophage dCMP deaminase with that deduced for the yeast enzyme revealed a limited degree of homology which extends over the entire length of the phage polypeptide (188 amino acids) but is confined to the carboxy-terminal half of the yeast protein (312 amino acids). A potential dTTP-binding site in the yeast and phage enzymes was identified by comparison of homologous regions with the amino acid sequences of a variety of other dTTP-binding enzymes. Despite the role of dCMP deaminase in dTTP biosynthesis, Northern analysis revealed that the DCD1 gene is not subject to the same cell cycle-dependent pattern of transcription recently found for the yeast thymidylate synthetase gene (TMP1).

Changes in thymidine kinase activity during differentiation of HL-60 leukemic cells

Induction of granulocyte maturation in HL-60 leukemic cells by DMSO (1.2%) or RA (1 microM) is accompanied by a 50-60% decrease in cellular thymidine kinase activity. Similarly, the differentiation of HL-60 cells into monocyte-macrophage phenotype by the addition of PMA is paralleled by a 60-80% suppression of thymidine kinase specific activity. Measurement of thymidine kinase kinetic parameters shows that the Vmax decreases from 0.7 pmol/min in control cells to 0.43 pmol/min in PMA-treated cells and to 0.38 pmol/min in RA-treated cells. The Km of the enzyme is not affected by either inducing agent and remains at 2.1 microM. Studies with PMA analogs suggest that thymidine kinase modulation is coupled to HL-60 differentiation.

Structure and expression of the Chinese hamster thymidine kinase gene

My colleagues and I have cloned a nearly full-length Chinese hamster thymidine kinase (TK) cDNA in a lambda gt10 vector and characterized this cDNA by nucleotide sequencing. The hamster TK protein is encoded in this cDNA by a 702-base-pair open reading frame which specifies a 25,625-dalton protein closely homologous to the previously described human and chicken TK proteins. Using cDNA nucleotide sequence data in conjunction with sequence data derived from selected subclones of the hamster TK gene recombinant phage lambda HaTK.5, we have resolved the structure of the TK gene, finding the 1,219 base pairs of the cDNA sequence to be distributed through 11.2 kilobases of genomic DNA in at least seven exon segments. In addition, we have constructed a variety of Chinese hamster TK minigenes and exonuclease III-S1 derivatives of these genes which have permitted us to define the limits of the Chinese hamster TK gene promoter and demonstrate that efficient TK transformation of Ltk- cells by TK minigenes depends on the presence of both TK intervening sequences and sequences 3' to the site of mRNA polyadenylation.

Genetic determinants of growth phase-dependent and adenovirus 5-responsive expression of the Chinese hamster thymidine kinase gene are contained within thymidine kinase mRNA sequences

We have constructed a chimeric thymidine kinase (TK) minigene, pHe delta 6Ha, which combines the complete coding and 3' noncoding regions of a Chinese hamster TK cDNA with the promoter region and 5' untranslated region of the TK gene of herpes simplex virus type 1. We have transformed rat 4 cells to Tk+ with this gene and analyzed the pattern of TK gene expression in these transformants under various conditions of in vitro cell culture. We find that TK gene expression in these Tk+ transformants is growth phase dependent, responsive to adenovirus 5 infection, and indistinguishable in character under a variety of cell culture conditions from the pattern of TK gene expression in rat 4 cells transformed to Tk+ with the genomic Chinese hamster TK gene clone lambda HaTK.5. We are led to the conclusion that the genetic elements which mediate growth phase-dependent TK gene expression are contained entirely within the sequences of the mature cytoplasmic hamster TK mRNA.

Genetic determinants of growth phase-dependent and adenovirus 5-responsive expression of the Chinese hamster thymidine kinase gene are contained within thymidine kinase mRNA sequences

We have constructed a chimeric thymidine kinase (TK) minigene, pHe delta 6Ha, which combines the complete coding and 3' noncoding regions of a Chinese hamster TK cDNA with the promoter region and 5' untranslated region of the TK gene of herpes simplex virus type 1. We have transformed rat 4 cells to Tk+ with this gene and analyzed the pattern of TK gene expression in these transformants under various conditions of in vitro cell culture. We find that TK gene expression in these Tk+ transformants is growth phase dependent, responsive to adenovirus 5 infection, and indistinguishable in character under a variety of cell culture conditions from the pattern of TK gene expression in rat 4 cells transformed to Tk+ with the genomic Chinese hamster TK gene clone lambda HaTK.5. We are led to the conclusion that the genetic elements which mediate growth phase-dependent TK gene expression are contained entirely within the sequences of the mature cytoplasmic hamster TK mRNA.

Structure and expression of the Chinese hamster thymidine kinase gene

My colleagues and I have cloned a nearly full-length Chinese hamster thymidine kinase (TK) cDNA in a lambda gt10 vector and characterized this cDNA by nucleotide sequencing. The hamster TK protein is encoded in this cDNA by a 702-base-pair open reading frame which specifies a 25,625-dalton protein closely homologous to the previously described human and chicken TK proteins. Using cDNA nucleotide sequence data in conjunction with sequence data derived from selected subclones of the hamster TK gene recombinant phage lambda HaTK.5, we have resolved the structure of the TK gene, finding the 1,219 base pairs of the cDNA sequence to be distributed through 11.2 kilobases of genomic DNA in at least seven exon segments. In addition, we have constructed a variety of Chinese hamster TK minigenes and exonuclease III-S1 derivatives of these genes which have permitted us to define the limits of the Chinese hamster TK gene promoter and demonstrate that efficient TK transformation of Ltk- cells by TK minigenes depends on the presence of both TK intervening sequences and sequences 3' to the site of mRNA polyadenylation.

Sequence and expression of the dCMP deaminase gene (DCD1) of Saccharomyces cerevisiae

The dCMP deaminase gene (DCD1) of Saccharomyces cerevisiae has been isolated by screening a Sau3A clone bank for complementation of the dUMP auxotrophy exhibited by dcd1 dmp1 haploids. Plasmid pDC3, containing a 7-kilobase (kb) Sau3A insert, restores dCMP deaminase activity to dcd1 mutants and leads to an average 17.5-fold overproduction of the enzyme in wild-type cells. The complementing activity of the plasmid was localized to a 4.2-kb PvuII restriction fragment within the Sau3A insert. Subcloning experiments demonstrated that a single HindIII restriction site within this fragment lies within the DCD1 gene. Subsequent DNA sequence analysis revealed a 936-nucleotide open reading frame encompassing this HindIII site. Disruption of the open reading frame by integrative transformation led to a loss of enzyme activity and confirmed that this region constitutes the dCMP deaminase gene. Northern analysis indicated that the DCD1 mRNA is a 1.15-kb poly(A)+ transcript. The 5' end of the transcript was mapped by primer extension and appears to exhibit heterogeneous termini. Comparison of the amino acid sequence of the T2 bacteriophage dCMP deaminase with that deduced for the yeast enzyme revealed a limited degree of homology which extends over the entire length of the phage polypeptide (188 amino acids) but is confined to the carboxy-terminal half of the yeast protein (312 amino acids). A potential dTTP-binding site in the yeast and phage enzymes was identified by comparison of homologous regions with the amino acid sequences of a variety of other dTTP-binding enzymes. Despite the role of dCMP deaminase in dTTP biosynthesis, Northern analysis revealed that the DCD1 gene is not subject to the same cell cycle-dependent pattern of transcription recently found for the yeast thymidylate synthetase gene (TMP1).

Use of a cell cycle mutant to delineate the critical period for the control of histone mRNA levels in the mammalian cell cycle

Temporal analysis of DNA replication and histone mRNA accumulation in a hamster fibroblast cell cycle mutant (K12) showed that histone mRNA accumulates periodically during the cell cycle and reaches its highest level in the S phase. The direct correlation between the initiation of DNA synthesis and the accumulation of histone mRNA to high levels in S phase demonstrated the strict interdependence of these two events. Moreover, a critical period necessary for histone mRNA accumulation occurred late in G1 phase. If cells were incubated at the nonpermissive temperature during this critical period, the amount of histone mRNA remained at the basal level. Transcription rate measurements indicated that the triggering of histone mRNA synthesis occurred in late G1 and this mRNA was synthesized at its maximal rate 3 to 5 h before its peak of accumulation. However, if cells were prohibited from synthesizing DNA as a consequence of the temperature-sensitive block in G1, the synthesis of histone mRNA was not initiated.

Use of a cell cycle mutant to delineate the critical period for the control of histone mRNA levels in the mammalian cell cycle

Temporal analysis of DNA replication and histone mRNA accumulation in a hamster fibroblast cell cycle mutant (K12) showed that histone mRNA accumulates periodically during the cell cycle and reaches its highest level in the S phase. The direct correlation between the initiation of DNA synthesis and the accumulation of histone mRNA to high levels in S phase demonstrated the strict interdependence of these two events. Moreover, a critical period necessary for histone mRNA accumulation occurred late in G1 phase. If cells were incubated at the nonpermissive temperature during this critical period, the amount of histone mRNA remained at the basal level. Transcription rate measurements indicated that the triggering of histone mRNA synthesis occurred in late G1 and this mRNA was synthesized at its maximal rate 3 to 5 h before its peak of accumulation. However, if cells were prohibited from synthesizing DNA as a consequence of the temperature-sensitive block in G1, the synthesis of histone mRNA was not initiated.

Post-transcriptional regulation of the chicken thymidine kinase gene

In attempting to understand the molecular basis of the control of chicken thymidine kinase (cTK) gene expression, we have examined the steady state cTK RNA content, and the patterns of DNA methylation, chromatin structure and endogenous nuclear runoff transcription of this gene in dividing and non-dividing cells. Our results reveal that the steady state level of cTK poly A+ RNA is correlated with the divisional activity of normal avian cells and tissues. However, no differences in the pattern of Hpa II site methylation or chromatin structure are found among cells containing high or undetectable levels of steady state cTK RNA. In addition, no differences in cTK transcription as assayed by nuclear runoff experiments are detectable in isolated nuclei derived from dividing or non-dividing cells containing high or low levels of steady state cTK RNA. These results suggest that the principal control of chicken thymidine kinase gene expression is post-transcriptional in nature.

Isolation and preliminary characterization of the Chinese hamster thymidine kinase gene

The Chinese hamster thymidine kinase (TK) gene has been isolated from a recombinant phage library constructed with genomic DNA from mouse Ltk- cells transformed to Tk+ by transfection with Chinese hamster genomic DNA. The phage library was screened by the Benton-Davis plaque hybridization technique, using as probes, subclones of recombinant phage that were isolated from mouse Ltk+ transformants by the tRNA suppressor rescue method. The Chinese hamster TK gene is contained within 13.2 kilobases of genomic DNA in the isolate designated lambda 34S4. This gene, defined by restriction enzyme sensitivity experiments, homology studies with the chicken TK gene, and mRNA blotting experiments, may extend over 8.5 kilobases. Subclones of the lambda 34S4 isolate used as hybridization probes identified a 1,400-nucleotide polyadenylated RNA as the hamster TK mRNA. The abundance of this mRNA varies dramatically in Chinese hamster cells cultured under various growth conditions, providing direct evidence that the growth dependence of TK activity may be regulated in an important way at the level of cytoplasmic TK mRNA.

Thymidine kinase (TK) induction after infection of TK-deficient rabbit cell mutants with bovine herpesvirus type 1 (BHV-1): isolation of TK- BHV-1 mutants

Cytosol thymidine kinase (TK) activity is enhanced at 6 hr after bovine embryo tracheal (EBTr) and rabbit skin fibroblast (RAB-9) cells are infected with the Los Angeles and Cooper strains of bovine herpesvirus type 1 (BHV-1). To learn whether this enhancement resulted from the induction of a virus-specific TK activity, biochemical and genetic studies were carried out. The biochemical experiments demonstrated that: (i) the BHV-1-induced TK activity had a relative disc PAGE mobility (Rm) characteristic of other herpesvirus-encoded TKs and distinctly different from the Rm value of the cytosol TK of host cells; and (ii) the BHV-1-induced TK was significantly more sensitive to competitive inhibition by arabinosylthymine (araT) than the cytosol TKs of EBTr and RAB-9 cells. The genetic experiments entailed the isolation of a bromodeoxyuridine (BrdUrd)-resistant rabbit cell line [RAB(BU)] deficient in cytosol TK activity and of BrdUrd- and araT-resistant BHV-1 mutants. RAB(BU) cells acquired TK activity after they were infected by wild-type, TK+ BHV-1, but not drug-resistant BHV-1 mutants. The experiments strongly suggest that wild-type BHV-1 induces a virus-specific TK activity.

Effects of temperature changes on thymidine kinase in heat- and cold-sensitive cell-cycle mutants and 'wild-type' murine P-815 cells

Two heat-sensitive (arrested in G1 at 39.5 degrees C) and two cold-sensitive (arrested in G1 at 33 degrees C) clonal cell-cycle mutants that had been isolated from the same clone (K 21), of the murine mastocytoma P-815 cell line, were tested for thymidine kinase (EC 2.7.1.21) activity. After shift of mutant cells to the nonpermissive temperature, thymidine kinase activity decreased, and minimal levels (i.e., less than 3% of those observed for 'wild-type' K 21 cells at the respective temperature) were attained within 16 h in heat-sensitive and after 3-4 days in cold-sensitive mutants, which is in good agreement with kinetics of accumulation of heat-sensitive and cold-sensitive cells in G1 phase. After return of arrested mutant cells to the permissive temperature, thymidine kinase of heat-sensitive cells increased rapidly and in parallel with entry of cells into the S phase. In cultures of cold-sensitive cells, however, initiation of DNA synthesis preceded the increase of thymidine kinase activity by approx. one cell-cycle time. Thymidine kinase activities in revertants of the heat-sensitive and cold-sensitive mutants were similar to those of 'wild-type' cells. In 'wild-type' K 21 cells incubated at 39.5 degrees C, thymidine kinase activity was approx. 30% of that at 33 degrees C. This difference is attributable, at least in part, to a higher rate of inactivation of the enzyme at 39.5 degrees C, as determined in cultures incubated with cycloheximide. The rapid increase of thymidine kinase activity that occurred after shift of K 21 cells and of arrested heat-sensitive mutant cells from 39.5 degrees C to 33 degrees C was inhibited by actinomycin D and cycloheximide.

Isolation and preliminary characterization of the Chinese hamster thymidine kinase gene

The Chinese hamster thymidine kinase (TK) gene has been isolated from a recombinant phage library constructed with genomic DNA from mouse Ltk- cells transformed to Tk+ by transfection with Chinese hamster genomic DNA. The phage library was screened by the Benton-Davis plaque hybridization technique, using as probes, subclones of recombinant phage that were isolated from mouse Ltk+ transformants by the tRNA suppressor rescue method. The Chinese hamster TK gene is contained within 13.2 kilobases of genomic DNA in the isolate designated lambda 34S4. This gene, defined by restriction enzyme sensitivity experiments, homology studies with the chicken TK gene, and mRNA blotting experiments, may extend over 8.5 kilobases. Subclones of the lambda 34S4 isolate used as hybridization probes identified a 1,400-nucleotide polyadenylated RNA as the hamster TK mRNA. The abundance of this mRNA varies dramatically in Chinese hamster cells cultured under various growth conditions, providing direct evidence that the growth dependence of TK activity may be regulated in an important way at the level of cytoplasmic TK mRNA.

Effect of cycloheximide on ionic channels in neuroblastoma cell membrane

The effect of cycloheximide (an inhibitor of protein synthesis) on the ionic currents through sodium and potassium channels was investigated in dialysed voltage-clamped N18 A-1 neuroblastoma cells. The cycloheximide concentration needed for half-inhibition of sodium peak conductance was about 0.5 micrograms/ml for 24 h of incubation. Half-inhibition time of the sodium peak conductance in cells incubated with 15.0 micrograms/ml of cycloheximide was about 9 h. Sodium against potassium ion selectivity, the activation and inactivation parameters were shown to be not affected by cycloheximide. Potassium conductance in similarly treated cells exhibited no consistent changes. The main conclusion is that the decay in peak sodium conductance is caused by diminishing the sodium channel density in the membrane (from 25 to 2.2 channels per micron2). The inhibition effect was evidently mediated by block of protein synthesis and was not the result of direct drug-channel interaction. The half-decay time of sodium peak conductance is interpreted as a possible life-time characteristic of sodium channels in the neuroblastoma cell membrane.

Stimulation of thymidine kinase activity by chloramphenicol in Naegleria

In the present study, the possible association of thymidine kinase (TK) with mitochondria in Naegleria was investigated by treating growing and differentiating cells with chloramphenicol (CAP), an inhibitor of mitochondrial protein synthesis. In some systems, CAP causes an overproduction of mitochondrial proteins coded for in the nucleus. The present results show that in growing Naegleria, CAP stimulates a dramatic increase in TK activity while growth and division is gradually inhibited. CAP does not stabilize the enzyme in vivo or in vitro. The stimulation is cycloheximide (CHI)-sensitive and specific since nucleoside phosphotransferase activity does not increase. In cells stimulated to differentiate, CAP does not prevent differentiation or the expected decrease in TK activity. Using polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, a comparison of TK in mitochondrial and postmitochondrial fractions of CAP-treated and untreated cells was made. Results suggest some processing of the enzyme, resulting in a slight change in electrophoretic mobility. No mitochondrial TK was found. The stimulation of a cytoplasmic enzyme by CAP suggests a form of mitochondrial control of nuclear transcription for other than mitochondrial proteins. DNA synthesis in CAP-treated cells was not stimulated, suggesting (since TK and DNA synthesis are usually tightly coupled) an uncoupling of these two events, most likely, at the beginning of the S phase.

Characterization of a cell cycle mutant derived from hamster fibroblast: reversion analysis

K12 is a temperature-sensitive (ts) mutant cell line derived from Chinese hamster fibroblasts. When incubated at the nonpermissive temperature, K12 cells exhibit the following properties: (a) the cells cannot initiate DNA synthesis;o (b) the synthesis of cytosol thymidine kinase is suppressed; and (c) the synthesis of three cellular proteins of molecular weights 94, 78, and 58 kdaltons is greatly enhanced. Here we characterize a spontaneous revertant clone, R12, derived from the K12 cells. We selected the revertant clone for its ability to grow at the nonpermissive temperature. Our results indicate that all the traits which constitute the K12 mutant phenotype are simultaneously reverted to the wild type in the revertant cell line, suggesting that the ts mutation of the K12 cells is of regulatory nature and exerts multiple effects on the expressed phenotypes.

Coupling of histone and DNA synthesis in the somatic cell cycle

The coupling of histone and DNA synthesis was examined in the temperature-sensitive hamster fibroblast cell line K12. By monitoring total cellular histone synthesis at various times after quiescent cells were stimulated to proliferate at permissive and nonpermissive temperatures, a direct correlation was found between the rates of DNA and histone synthesis. Furthermore, when DNA synthesis was blocked by the K12 mutation, histone synthesis was reduced to the basal rate.

Rapid decrease in thymidine kinase activity of mouse cell temperature-sensitive mutants at a non-permissive temperature

A rapid decrease in the incorporation of [3H]thymidine into DNA at a non-permissive temperature was observed in two temperature-sensitive mutants that were isolated from mouse FM3A cells. This change was not due to a decrease in the rate of DNA replication, but was closely associated with a decrease in thymidine kinase activity of these cells. Experiments to test thermolability of thymidine kinase in extracts showed that there are two components of the thymidine kinase, but there was no alteration in the sensitivity of the enzyme to high temperature. Also, the decrease in enzyme activity in the temperature-sensitive mutants at the non-permissive temperature occurred much faster than expected from the half-life of the enzyme in wild-type cells, which was measured in the presence of cycloheximide. These results suggested that the enzyme was somehow rapidly inactivated, or degraded, in the cells at the non-permissive temperature.

Cell cycle-dependent regulation of thymidine kinase activity introduced into mouse LMTK- cells by DNA and chromatin-mediated gene transfer

We report on the expression of thymidine kinase (tk) activity in synchronized populations of mouse cells that have been transformed to the tk+ phenotype with purified DNA from various sources or with metaphase chromosomes from human cells. The viral (herpes) tk gene is constitutively expressed but, in all other cases examined, the activity is regulated as in normal tk+ mouse cells: There is a dramatic increase at the beginning of the S-phase. This regulation is observed whether the transgenome is stably integrated into the host genome or whether it is still in an unstable nonintegrated state.

Enzyme induction in a temperature-sensitive cell cycle mutant of Chinese hamster fibroblasts

A temperature-sensitive (ts) cell cycle mutant of Chinese hamster fibroblasts with a block in G1 was investigated. Attention was on the expression of the activity of three enzymes: ornithine decarboxylase (ODC) S-adenosylmethionine decarboxylase (SAMDC), and thymidine kinase (TK). ODC and SAMDC activities are normally induced in the middle of, or late in, the G1 phase, while TK activity starts to appear at the G1/S boundary. In the ts mutant released from serum starvation at the nonpermissive temperature (40.8 degrees C), we find no effect on the expression of SAMDC activity, a significantly reduced level of ODC activity compared to the control at the permissive temperature (34 degrees C), and no induction of TK activity. Results presented here and in a previous publication (Landy-Otsuka and Scheffler, '78) suggest that the decrease in ODC activity is due to an effect of the nonpermissive temperature on a post-transcriptional step, possibly a very rapid inactivation of the enzyme. The absence of TK activity, on the other hand, appears to be due to a block in transcription at the nonpermissive temperature.

Enhancement of the synthesis of specific cellular polypeptides in a temperature-sensitive Chinese hamster cell line (K12) defective for entry into S phase

Temperature-sensitive Chinese hamster cells (K12) have been shown to be defective for the initiation of new rounds of DNA replication when incubated at the restrictive temperature (40.5 degrees). By temperature shift experiments with synchronous cultures, we have marked out the step at which the mutation is expressed as the four hours preceding the initiation of DNA synthesis. The block imposed by the mutation has been shown to be irreversible. In order to approach the biochemical characterization of the temperature-sensitive function in K12 cells, we have analyzed the cellular proteins synthesized under permissive (35 degrees) and restrictive temperatures. The synthesis of three polypeptides is markedly enhanced when K12 cells are incubated at 40.5 degrees. One of them (band B) has turned out to be a useful biochemical marker of the expression of K12 mutation since its synthesis is not affected in other ts-mutants or in hybrids in which K12 mutation is complemented. In addition, the alteration in band B synthesis is irreversible and occurs during the same stage of the cell cycle at which the mutated function is expressed.