Studies dealing with hepatic RNA metabolism in rats force-fed a threonine-devoid diet.
Young rats were force-fed for 3 days a purified diet devoid of threonine and a number of aspects relating to RNA metabolism in the livers were studied. The findings in the livers of rats force-fed the threonine-devoid diet in comparison with those force-fed the complete diet were as follows: a) poly(A)-mRNA was increased in nuclei and in polyribosomes; b) DNA-dependent RNA polymerases I and II activities were increased; c) in vitro release of 14C-orotic acid labeled RNA from nuclei revealed that transport was unchanged and nucleoside triphosphatase activity of nuclear envelopes was unchanged; d) polyribosomes (total, free and membrane-bound) shifted toward heavier aggregation and in vitro 14C-leucine incorporation into protein was increased; e) RNase activities (at pH 5.4, 7.6, 9.5) were essentially unaltered; and f) in vivo 14C-choline incorporation into microsomal membranes was increased. By administering selected inhibitors of RNA and protein synthesis, such as actinomycin D, alpha-amanitin or cycloheximide, prior to killing the rats force-fed the threonine-devoid or complete diet for 3 days, it was demonstrated that the stimulatory effect on hepatic polyribosomes and protein synthesis in the experimental group was dependent upon new synthesis of poly(A)mRNA and of protein.
D000818:Animals; D002467:Cell Nucleus / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D005502:Food; D008099:Liver / Q000378:metabolism*; D011061:Poly A / Q000378:metabolism; D011132:Polyribosomes / Q000378:metabolism; D014176:Protein Biosynthesis; D012313:RNA / Q000378:metabolism*; D012318:RNA Polymerase I / Q000378:metabolism; D012319:RNA Polymerase II / Q000378:metabolism; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D012335:RNA, Ribosomal / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats; D013912:Threonine / Q000172:deficiency*
D012333:RNA, Messenger; D012335:RNA, Ribosomal; D011061:Poly A; D013912:Threonine; D012313:RNA; D012319:RNA Polymerase II; D012318:RNA Polymerase I