title: In vitro effect of emetine and chloroquine on the macromolecular biosynthesis of murine thymus cells.
abstract: The in vitro effect of antiparasitic agents, emetine and chloroquine on the DNA, RNA and protein synthesis was studied in isolated murine thymocytes. Cytotoxic effect was observed at 10(-4) and 10(-3) M emetine concentrations causing 50% and 70% cell death, respectively. The toxic effect of emetine could be prevented when emetine was removed within 10 min of treatment. Inhibitory concentrations for DNA, RNA and protein biosynthesis were 10(-5), 5 x 10(-5) and 10(-8) M, respectively. The number of living cells decreased by 30 and 50% at 10(-4) and 10(-3) M chloroquine concentrations, respectively. Gradually decreasing rate of DNA synthesis was measured at increasing concentration of chloroquine between 10(-8) and 10(-3) while RNA and protein synthesis were effected at 5 x 10(-5) M concentration. These results indicate that protein biosynthesis is primarily affected by in vitro emetine and chloroquine treatment of murine thymocytes.
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects; D002738:Chloroquine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004247:DNA / Q000096:biosynthesis; D004640:Emetine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D046911:Macromolecular Substances; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008815:Mice, Inbred Strains; D014176:Protein Biosynthesis; D012313:RNA / Q000096:biosynthesis; D013950:Thymus Gland / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D046911:Macromolecular Substances; D012313:RNA; D002738:Chloroquine; D004247:DNA; D004640:Emetine