Mitogen induction of deoxyuridine triphosphatase activity in human T and B lymphocytes.
Deoxyuridine triphosphatase (dUTPase; deoxyuridine diphosphohydrolase; EC 3.6.1.23) activity during mitogen stimulation was investigated in human T-cell and B-cell enriched mononuclear leucocyte fractions as well as in a mixed lymphocyte population. The dUTPase activity was very low in the resting peripheral blood lymphocytes. A remarkable enhancement of enzymatic activity was observed when cells were stimulated with different mitogens; T-cells and non-separated lymphocytes with phytohaemagglutinin, and the B-cell enriched fraction with pokeweed mitogen. There was a positive correlation between dUTPase activity and the enhancement of macromolecule synthesis (protein and RNA). In particular, a highly significant correlation was observed between dUTPase activity and DNA synthesis in the three human lymphocyte populations studied. This supports the view that the enzyme dUTPase may have a significant role in cellular proliferation. The physiological role of the enzyme is discussed.
D000818:Animals; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000201:enzymology*; D004247:DNA / Q000096:biosynthesis; D004790:Enzyme Induction; D006801:Humans; D010835:Phytohemagglutinins / Q000494:pharmacology*; D011043:Pokeweed Mitogens / Q000494:pharmacology*; D014176:Protein Biosynthesis; D011755:Pyrophosphatases / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D012313:RNA / Q000096:biosynthesis; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000201:enzymology*
D010835:Phytohemagglutinins; D011043:Pokeweed Mitogens; D012313:RNA; D004247:DNA; D011755:Pyrophosphatases; C020020:dUTP pyrophosphatase