title: Inhibition of protein synthesis by zinc: comparison between protein synthesis and RNA synthesis.
abstract: Inhalation of zinc fumes may lead to the acute respiratory distress syndrome. The mechanisms of pulmonary zinc toxicity are not yet understood. Therefore we investigated zinc-dependent depression of protein and RNA synthesis in rat and human lung cell lines. 1. After exposure to 120 or 150 micromol/l zinc, RNA synthesis as assessed by uridine incorporation decreased by 60-70% between 0 and 2 h exposition in rat alveolar type II cells (L2 cells) and human fibroblast-like cells (11Lu and 16Lu cells), and by 90% between 0 and 4 h in carcinoma-derived cells (A549 cells). 2. After 2 h exposure, L2, 11Lu, and 16Lu cells were half-maximally inhibited by 50 micromol/l zinc, whereas A549 cells were more resistant with half-maximal inhibition at 100 micromol/zinc. 3. Protein and RNA synthesis was inhibited in parallel in L2, 11Lu, and A549 cells as indicated by simultaneous determination of uridine and amino acid incorporation. In 16Lu cells, the decline in protein synthesis preceded RNA synthesis inhibition. Pretreatment with RNA synthesis inhibitors (amanitin or actinomycin D) had no effect on time curve and intensity of RNA synthesis inhibition. Taken together, our results indicate that the suppression of RNA and protein synthesis likely are independent phenomena, due to direct zinc effects on these biosynthetic pathways.
authors.affiliation: Walther Straub-Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Germany.
authors.forename: U I
authors.initials: UI
authors.lastname: Walther
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Schulze
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Forth
mesh_terms: D000546:Amanitins / Q000494:pharmacology; D000596:Amino Acids / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D003609:Dactinomycin / Q000494:pharmacology; D005347:Fibroblasts / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D008168:Lung / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D019384:Nucleic Acid Synthesis Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology*; D014176:Protein Biosynthesis; D011500:Protein Synthesis Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology*; D012313:RNA / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D051381:Rats; D013997:Time Factors; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured; D014529:Uridine / Q000378:metabolism; D015032:Zinc / Q000633:toxicity*