title: Altered metabolism of glutathione in cells transformed by oncogenes which cause resistance to ionizing radiations.
abstract: We measured glutathione (GSH) metabolism in normal NIH/3T3 fibroblasts, and in cells transformed by the oncogenes sis, erbB, src, ras, dbl, and raf.erbB,src,ras and raf, but not sis and dbl transformants, showed increased level of total and reduced GSH as compared with normal NIH/3T3 fibroblasts; oxidized GSH was elevated only in src- and ras-transformed cells. Increased total GSH content was associated with decreased activity of the synthetic enzyme gamma-glutamylcysteine synthetase, and oxidized GSH level with increased activity of GSH reductase. These data suggest that GSH synthesis was selectively enhanced in cells transformed by specific oncogenes, with resulting down-regulation of its synthetic enzyme; alterations of GSH metabolism appeared to be peculiar of transformation by specific oncogenes, and not trivial epiphenomena of neoplastic transformation. Oncogenic transformants that presented elevated level of GSH were also those reported to be resistant to antineoplastic drugs and ionizing radiations, thus confirming a possible link between altered GSH metabolism and resistance to antineoplastic treatment.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemical Sciences, University of Firenze, Italy.
authors.forename: M T
authors.initials: MT
authors.lastname: Vincenzini
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Marraccini
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Iantomasi
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Favilli
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Pacini
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ruggiero
mesh_terms: D016475:3T3 Cells; D000818:Animals; D002471:Cell Transformation, Neoplastic / Q000378:metabolism*; D005721:Glutamate-Cysteine Ligase / Q000378:metabolism; D005978:Glutathione / Q000378:metabolism*; D005980:Glutathione Reductase / Q000378:metabolism; D005982:Glutathione Transferase / Q000378:metabolism; D051379:Mice; D009857:Oncogenes; D010084:Oxidation-Reduction
chemical_list: D005980:Glutathione Reductase; D005982:Glutathione Transferase; D005721:Glutamate-Cysteine Ligase; D005978:Glutathione