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A solid-phase immunoadsorbent specific for terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase has been prepared. The enzyme from calf thymus and acute lymphoblastic leukemia cells binds to columns of this material. Bound enzyme can be eluted in an active form. Selective and rapid purification of terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase from crude extracts of cells containing this enzyme can be achieved by this method since the immunoadsorbent has no affinity for other cellular DNA polymerases.

High activity of terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase (terminal transferase) was found in a new "thymus-dependent" cell line (RPMI 8402) which is of acute lymphoblastic leukemia origin. This enzyme resembled the terminal transferase from other human cells in all its properties including Km (0.7 x 10(-6) m for dGTP). The high activity of this enzyme in RPMI 8402 and fresh acute leukemia lymphoblasts, in contrast to the low activity of this enzyme reported for "thymus-independent' cells, suggested that this cell line may have originated from leukemia cells. Moreover, the high activity of terminal transferase in RPMI 8402 cells should make feasible large-scale purification of this enzyme for detailed studies.

We have examined alterations in terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase (TdT) immunofluorescence (IF) in MOLT-4 cells during changes in growth conditions. Subsequently, we used cells from 48 human hematopoietic cell lines of different cell lineages and maturation stages to compare the IF and biochemical assays for expression of TdT. In addition, we have attempted to correlate the expression of TdT, adenosine deaminase (ADA), thymidine phosphorylase (TP) and immunological markers with maturation stages in these different cell lines. The results indicate that TdT positive cells remain TdT positive when assayed by either the biochemical or IF tests during growth or early plateau phase, but that cells under poor growth conditions, such as in old cultures, may give a negative TdT IF reaction. Otherwise, biochemical and IF assays for TdT gave comparable results in the 48 cell lines tested, testifying to the reliability of the IF test. Based on the comparisons of the various cell lines studied, it appears that both ADA and TdT decrease progressively as maturation of T cells from Blast I to Blast IV to mature T cells increases. TP was deficient in all T-cell lines compared to normal peripheral blood T cells, which in turn had lower activity compared to normal peripheral blood B cells. Pre-B cells, although indistinguishable from each other by immunological markers and all having low TP and ADA activity, showed heterogeneity, with TdT activity high in some and low in others. All non-T, non-B lines had high TdT activity, but low ADA and TP activity. B- and myelocytic cell lines had low ADA and TdT activity, and showed an increase in TP activity as the maturation of cells increased. These results indicate that the TdT IF test is a reliable procedure for detecting TdT positive cells, and that TdT, ADA and TP could be useful markers for studying the differentiation of human hematopoietic cells.

Several enzyme activities were examined to establish a relationship between their expression and terminal differentiation of B-chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) cells to plasma cells by 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA). Although adenosine deaminase activity did not change significantly, thymidine phosphorylase and purine nucleoside phosphorylase increased 2-3-fold on TPA-induced differentiation of CLL cells. In addition, cytochemical reactions for non-specific esterase and acid phosphatase changed from very weak to intense on differentiation of CLL cells to plasma cells. The above markers, particularly cytochemical, could be useful for the classification of B-cell malignancies and for studying B-cell differentiation.

Treatment of non-T/non-B human leukemic cell line REH with 5 X 10(-9) M 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA) at 37 degrees resulted in their adherence to culture flasks by 24 to 36 hr and, after 72 hr, the entire surface of the flask/coverslips became covered with macrophage-like cells containing pseudopodia. Wright-Giemsa-stained untreated cells had blast morphology, whereas TPA-treated cells (adherent or excess cells remaining in suspension) had characteristic morphology of macrophages and phagocytized large numbers of latex beads. Untreated REH cells were negative for nitroblue tetrazolium reduction, Sudan Black B, and peroxidase, and they were weakly positive for periodic acid-Schiff, acid phosphatase, chloroacetate esterase (pH 6.8), and nonspecific (naphthol AS-D acetate, pH 6.8) esterase, whereas TPA-treated cells (adherent or in suspension) gave strong reaction for these stains except for peroxidase and chloroacetate esterase which showed moderate reaction. Furthermore, the nonspecific esterase activity of TPA-treated cells and weak activity in 10% of untreated cells was strongly inhibited by NaF, a characteristic of monocytic series of cells. Lysozyme activity was not detected in culture supernatant from control or TPA-treated cells. No cytoplasmic immunoglobulin was detected in untreated or TPA-treated cells, and the monocyte/granulocyte antigen (detected by MCS-2 monoclonal antibody) which was absent from untreated REH cells was expressed in TPA-treated cells. TPA-treated cells lost common acute lymphoblastic leukemia antigen but showed significantly elevated expression of histocompatibility locus DR antigen. Terminal transferase estimated by immunofluorescence and biochemical assay was high in untreated REH cells, whereas TPA-treated cells were negative in terminal transferase immunofluorescence and had only negligible terminal transferase activity in biochemical assay. All these changes in REH cells observed on TPA treatment represent the differentiation of a human leukemic non-T/non-B-cell line to macrophage-like cells for the first time which indicates that some non-T/non-B acute lymphoblastic leukemia cells may have latent monocyte-like phenotype.

The role of differential metabolic activation of a 5-fluorouracil (FU) prodrug, 5'-deoxy-5-fluorouridine (dFUR), in achieving selective cytotoxicity was investigated in cultured human (dFUR), in achieving selective cytotoxocity was investigated in cultured human B lymphocytes and murine leukemia L1210 cells. B cells were cross-sensitive to FU and dFUR. On the other hand, leukemia L1210 cells were sensitive to FU but resistant to dFUR. The difference in the biological activities of FU and dFUR in B and L1210 cells correlated with (a) the metabolism of dFUR to FU by intact B (60% conversion) and L1210 (no conversion) cells, and (b) the phosphorylase activity of B (660 nmoles converted in 2 hr per mg protein) and L1210 (undetectable) cells. The intracellular metabolism of FU and dFUR was studied using a reversed-phase ion-pair high pressure liquid chromatographic assay. FU and dFUR shared similar metabolic pathways in B cells; their anabolites included FU ribose and deoxyribose nucleosides and nucleotides. In L1210 cells, FU was anabolized to 5-fluorouridine triphosphate and 5-fluorodeoxyuridine monophosphate, whereas dFUR was present mainly as the unchanged drug. Further metabolism studies using dFUR with tritium label in either the FU moiety or the altered sugar moiety established that the metabolic pathway of dFUR to cytotoxic FU anabolites in the B cells was via phosphorolysis to FU. These data indicate that, on a cellular level, an FU prodrug such as dFUR, which is activated by cytosolic enzyme, has a different selectivity from that of FU, and that the basis of differential selectivity is the initial phosphorolysis to FU.

Tilorone, which is 2,7-bis[2-(diethylamino)ethoxy]-9H-fluoren-9-one dihydrochloride, and 13 of its analogs inhibited human cellular DNA polymerases alpha and beta assayed with activated DNA as template and also cellular DNA polymerase gamma and DNA polymerase from simian sarcoma virus assayed with poly(A) (dT)12-18 as template. Terminal deoxynucleotidyltransferase (TdT), which has no template requirement, was not inhibited by any of the 14 compounds when d(A)12-18 or d(G)12-18 was used as initiator. Three compounds did not inhibit TdT assayed with activated DNA as initiator, but 11 compounds did, and these 11 compounds were generally less inhibitory to TdT than to the other DNA polymerases. The three compounds that did not inhibit TdT assayed with activated DNA but did inhibit the other DNA polymerases will be useful in the characterization of TdT activity. Modifications of the polycyclic ring structure of tilorone and the kinds of substituent groups attached to the ring structures influenced the degree of inhibition of all enzymes.

Putrescine, spermidine, spermine and two unknowns designated as A and B were detected in first seedling leaves of barley (Hordeum vulgare L. var. Wolfe). The levels of these polyamines in first seedling leaves from 4-day-old barley plants grown in darkness or in light were comparable and did not change significantly after exposure of dark grown plants to light for 24 h. No significant consistent changes in the amounts of above polyamines, except perhaps decline in spermidine, were noted during senescence of intact or excised first seedling leaves of barley and this spermidine decline was suppressed during retardation of senescence of excised leaves by 10 mg/l kinetin in the dark. In addition, putrescine, spermidine, spermine, cadaverine and diaminopropane (0.2 mM, 1 mM, 10 mM) had no effect on senescence of excised barley leaves in the dark and both spermine and spermidine induced bleaching of the leaves in the light. Both spermine and spermidine (approx. 10 mM) inhibited RNase and DNase activities but stimulated phosphodiesterase activity (assayed with bis-p-nitrophenyl phosphate as substrate) in crude soluble extracts from barley leaves. Purified snake venom phosphodiesterase activity assayed with RNA as substrate was, however, stimulated by 300-400% by 7-14 mM spermine or spermidine indicating similar possibilities for barley phosphodiesterase. These results together with the presence of multiple species of these enzymes and a decline in net soluble RNase and DNase activities during senescence in barley leaves reported previously, make it unlikely that inhibition of RNase activity in vitro by polyamines could be correlated with their effect on senescence. Putrescine, spermidine and spermine were detected in normal and crown gall tumor tissue cultures of tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum var Wisconsin 38) and in tobacco mosaic virus (TMV)-infected freshly excised pith tissue from tobacco which represented non-proliferating tissue. The level of all three polyamines was several-fold higher in cultured tissues compared to the non-dividing freshly excised pith tissue and the tumor cultures had several-fold higher spermidine and putrescine respectively compared to normal tissue cultures. These results indicate high levels of polyamines in growing tissues but no consistent pivotal changes in polyamines during senescence. The results also do not support polyamines being natural anti-senescent compounds in plants or that their anti-senescent compounds effect could result from inhibition of RNase activity.

Antibody to purified terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase (nucleosidetriphosphate : DNA deoxy-nucleotidylexotransferase, E.C. 2.7.7.31) from calf thymus was prepared in rabbits using terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase crosslinked to bovine serum albumin. These antibodies, partially purified by 60% ammonium sulfate precipitation and Sephadex G-200 column chromatography, produced one precipitation band with calf thymus terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase on immunodiffusion. This antibody preparation also inhibited the in vitro activity of terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase from calf thymus, acute leukemic lymphoblasts and Molt-4 cells but not that of DNA polymerases alpha, beta and psi from these cells

The effect of sucrose, Mg(2+) and deoxycholate on the yield of ribosomes from barley leaves was determined and the changes in the amount and the composition of ribosomes during senescence of intact and excised first seedling leaves were examined.The extraction medium containing 20 mm tris-HCl, 0.25 m sucrose, 1 mm MgCl(2) and 0.5% deoxycholate (pH 7.8) gave the maximum yield of polyribosomes and ribosomes. That polyribosomes were not non-specific aggregates was suggested by their capacity to synthesize nascent protein. During senescence of both intact and excised leaves polyribosomes and ribosomes were lost and the ribosomes-polyribosomes which originally contained 48% protein and 52% RNA showed substantial decline in the protein content during senescence indicating the degradation of ribosomes and the loss of their function.

1. Changes in nucleic acid metabolism in first seedling leaves of barley plants during aging (from 7 to 27 days) were followed, and the effect of continual removal of the second leaf and basal meristem or of treating the first leaf with 20p.p.m. kinetin on these changes was examined. During aging of the first seedling leaves the ribosomal RNA, DNA and soluble RNA declined, with ribosomal RNA showing the most rapid fall. This was, however, accompanied by increased incorporation of (32)P into RNA, which reached its peak on the fifteenth day. 2. Second-leaf removal partially suppressed first-leaf senescence as judged by retarded chlorophyll and nucleic acid decline and by a decreased extent of RNA labelling. Treatment with kinetin, however, did not prove effective. 3. No significant differences in the sucrose-gradient pattern of (32)P-labelled nucleic acids or in the (32)P-labelled nucleotide composition of RNA fractions during aging or during the two treatments were noted, except for a decrease in CMP content of soluble RNA during aging. 4. The results demonstrate that important changes in RNA metabolism are associated with leaf senescence.

Cross-reacting antigens were found in bacteria-free crown gall tumor tissue tested with serum prepared against Agrobacterium tumefaciens (Smith and Towns.) Conn., but no such antigens were detected in callus tissue. Soluble proteins from tumor tissue, callus tissue, and the crown gall bacteria were fractionated on a DEAE-Sephadex (A-50) column. The diethylaminoethyl-Sephadex elution profile for tumor tissue showed three protein fractions that were not detected in the callus tissue. Two of these protein fractions were shown to be exclusively bacteria specific. Besides these qualitative differences between the two tissues, significant quantitative differences in the amount of protein fractions were also observed. The diethylaminoethyl-Sephadex column fractions from tumorigenic strain of A. tumefaciens corresponding in position to the three additional peaks in the tumor tissue also showed cross-reacting antigens when tested with serum prepared against sterile tumor tissue. It is suggested that tumor formation by A. tumefaciens involves integration of the bacterial genome into the host-cell genome.

1. The activity of soluble ribonuclease and deoxyribonuclease first declined during senescence, but later increased during advanced stages of senescence. 2. Young leaves had very low ribonuclease or deoxyribonuclease activity associated with the chromatin, but the activity of these enzymes increased progressively during senescence until the leaves died. 3. No significant changes in the composition of chromatin from first seedling leaves of barley plants during aging (from 7 to 25 days) were noted. 4. The amount of RNA synthesized by chromatin in vitro declined as the leaf aged. However, if the loss of RNA due to chromatin-associated ribonuclease was taken into account, the RNA-synthesizing activity of chromatin from senescing (15-16-day-old) leaves appeared to be somewhat higher than that of chromatin from young (7-8-day-old) leaves. In leaves at the terminal stages of senescence (23 days old) the estimates of RNA synthesis by chromatin could not be made owing to complications created by high nuclease activities. 5. It is suggested that senescence may be triggered by a decline in some hormonal factor in leaves, and that the resulting production of chromatin-associated deoxyribonuclease and ribonuclease in increasing proportions may progressively cause increased degradation of DNA and newly synthesized RNA, so that ultimately the cellular functions are impaired and the cells die.

1. The total RNA and the RNA present in 27000g pellet (probably composed of chloroplasts, nuclei and mitochondria) and in 27000g supernatant (probably composed of microsomes and soluble proteins) fractions (separated by centrifugation at 27000g of a leaf homogenate prepared in 0.5m-sucrose-0.02m-tris-HCl, pH7.6) of barley leaves were extracted by phenol-sodium lauryl sulphate and their elution profiles on Sephadex G-200 and on ECTEOLA-cellulose anion-exchanger were examined and their nucleotide compositions and the melting curves were determined. 2. The pellet and the supernatant fractions contained respectively about 55% and 20% of the total RNA, whereas 25% of the total RNA was lost during homogenization of the leaf tissue with sucrose-buffer. 3. The total RNA or the RNA from pellet or supernatant fractions, which by its behaviour on Sephadex G-200 columns was found to be predominantly of high molecular weight (i.e. of ribosomal origin), produced about 13 peaks on ECTEOLA-cellulose columns. The RNA species in the pellet and supernatant fractions probably resembled each other in molecular size or secondary structure or both. However, they were present in relatively different amounts in these fractions. 4. The T(m) (i.e. the temperature at which 50% of the maximal increase in extinction had occurred) of total RNA and of RNA from pellet fraction was 64.5 degrees whereas T(m) of RNA from the supernatant fraction was 73 degrees . The total RNA and the RNA from pellet fraction also resembled each other in nucleotide composition, and the RNA from the supernatant fraction in accordance with its high T(m) had a high GMP+CMP content.