P32 UPTAKE BY NUCLEI

Abstract

1. A method for isolating nuclei in quantity from mammalian tissues is described. 2. The rate of uptake of radioactive phosphorus by nuclei is found to be quite rapid. The phosphorus was shown not to be taken up by exchange. 3. Nuclei of tumors accumulate more radioactive phosphorus than normal liver nuclei. This was shown to be due to mitotic activity and not a form of metabolism peculiar to tumor cells. 4. The specific activities of nuclei and cytoplasm are compared. 5. 60 to 70 per cent of the nuclear radioactive phosphorus is present as nucleoprotein from 1 hour to 5 days after it is administered. In the lymphoma nuclei 90–95 per cent of the phosphorus is in the nucleoprotein fraction from 1–5 days after it is administered. 6. The specific activities of the nucleoprotein, lipid, and acid-soluble fractions of liver and tumor nuclei are compared. 7. From the rate of P32 uptake by nuclei it is calculated that a new lymphoma nucleus is synthesized on the average once every 27 hours. This is in agreement with the observed rate of growth of the tumor. 8. In the lymphoma nucleus it is calculated that 7 x 104 molecules of tetranucleotide are synthesized per second. 9. Irradiation with 200 r. x-rays alters the distribution of P32 in the lymphoma cell, markedly increasing the concentration in the nucleus shortly after irradiation. The P32 concentration in the cytoplasm decreases with time after irradiation. It is suggested that the altered distribution is correlated with the inhibition of mitosis produced by the x-rays. 10. Continual synthesis of nucleoprotein takes place even in nuclei of cells which do not undergo mitosis.