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Deoxyribonucleic acid-dependent ribonucleic acid polymerase activity in rat liver after protein restriction.

ABSTRACT: Rats were fed for 6 days on a diet containing either 3 or 20% high-quality protein. Nuclei were isolated from liver and DNA-dependent RNA polymerases (EC 2.7.7.6) extracted with 1 M-(NH4)2SO4. The proteins were then precipitated with 3.5 M-(NH4)2SO4 and after dialysis applied to a DEAE-Sephadex column. The column was developed with a gradient of (NH4)2SO4. Polymerase I separated well from alpha-amanitin-sensitive polymerase II. The enzyme activities were compared between the two dietary groups. Rats that had received 3% protein showed a lower polymerase I activity per g wet wt. of liver, per mg of DNA and per mg of protein. Polymerase II was lower in activity per g wet wt. of liver and per mg of DNA, but was higher per mg of protein. Polyacrylamide-gel electrophoretograms showed a higher proportion of contaminating proteins in polymerase II fractions isolated from 20%-protein-fed rats. The data explain the lower activity obtained per mg of protein in these rats. It is concluded that a decrease in dietary protein content from 20 to 3% induces a fall in content and specific activity of RNA polymerase I and II in liver.

SUBMITTER: Andersson GM

PROVIDER: S-EPMC1165505 | biostudies-other | 1975 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-other

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Project description:1. The stimulations of DNA-dependent RNA polymerase in isolated rat-liver nuclei by thyroid hormone, human growth hormone and testosterone are compared. 2. Single or multiple administrations of growth-promoting doses of tri-iodo-l-thyronine, human growth hormone and testosterone stimulate the Mg(2+)-activated RNA-polymerase reaction in nuclei from thyroidectomized, hypophysectomized and castrated rats respectively. The magnitude of stimulation was proportional to the degree of enhancement of liver growth by each hormone. After a single injection, the latent period preceding the stimulation was 1, 2 and 10hr. for growth hormone, testosterone and tri-iodothyronine respectively. The time-course of stimulation of enzyme activity and the synthesis of rapidly labelled nuclear RNA in vivo were also different for each hormone. 3. Growth hormone administration failed to stimulate the Mn(2+)/ammonium sulphate-activated RNA-polymerase reaction. Thyroid hormone and testosterone, however, stimulated it but the effect was less pronounced and occurred several hours later than that observed for the Mg(2+)-activated RNA-polymerase reaction. 4. In combination experiments, hypophysectomized or the thyroidectomized rats were given growth hormone or tri-iodothyronine in a single or repeated doses at levels that produced the maximum stimulation of Mg(2+)-activated RNA-polymerase activity. Taking into account the different latent period for each hormone, a single administration of the second hormone caused an additional stimulation of the enzyme activity. Similar additive effects were observed in thyroidectomized-castrated rats after treatment with tri-iodothyronine and testosterone. The magnitude of the additional stimulation caused by the administration of the second hormone was compatible with the capacity of that hormone to promote liver growth in rats deprived of it. 5. It is concluded that, although these hormones have some similar effects, the regulation of nuclear RNA synthesis may be mediated via different routes for each hormone.

Project description:1. The Widnell & Tata (1966) assay method for Mg(2+)-activated DNA-dependent RNA polymerase was used for initial-velocity determinations of rat liver nuclear RNA polymerase. One unit (U) of RNA polymerase was defined as that amount of enzyme required for 1 mmol of [(3)H]GMP incorporation/min at 37 degrees C. 2. Colony fed rats were found to have a mean RNA polymerase activity of 65.9muU/mg of DNA and 18h-starved rats had a mean activity of 53.2muU/mg of DNA. Longer periods of starvation did not significantly decrease RNA polymerase activity further. 3. Rats that had been starved for 18h were used for all feeding experiments. Complete and tryptophan-deficient amino acid mixtures were given by stomach tube and the animals were killed 15-120min later. The response of RNA polymerase to the feeding with the complete amino acid mixture was rapid and almost linear over the first hour of feeding, resulting in a doubling of activity. The activity was still elevated above the starvation value at 120min after feeding. The tryptophan-deficient amino acid mixture produced a much less vigorous response about 45min after the feeding, and the activity had returned to the starvation value by 120min after the feeding. 4. The response of RNA polymerase to the feeding with the complete amino acid mixture was shown to occur within a period of less than 5min to about 10min after the feeding. 5. Pretreatment of the animals with puromycin or cycloheximide was found to abolish the 15min RNA polymerase response to the feeding with the complete amino acid mixture, but the activity of the controls was unaffected. 6. The characteristics of the RNA polymerase from 18h-starved animals and animals fed with the complete or incomplete amino acid mixtures for 1h were examined. The effects of Mg(2+) ions, pH, actinomycin D and nucleoside triphosphate omissions were determined. The [Mg(2+)]- and pH-activity profiles of the RNA polymerase from the animal fed with the complete mixture appeared to differ from those of the enzyme from the other groups, but this difference is probably not significant. 7. [5-(3)H]Orotic acid incorporation by rat liver nuclei in vivo was shown to be affected by the amino acid mixtures in a similar manner to the RNA polymerase. 8. The tryptophan concentrations of plasma and liver were determined up to 120 min after feeding with the amino acid mixtures. Feeding with the complete mixture produced a rapid increase in free tryptophan concentrations in both plasma and liver, but feeding with the incomplete mixture did not alter the plasma concentration. The liver tryptophan concentration increased at about 45min after feeding with the tryptophan-deficient diet. 9. There was a good correlation between the liver tryptophan concentration and RNA polymerase activity in all groups of animals. 10. It was concluded that the rat liver nucleus responded to an increase in amino acid supply by increased synthesis of RNA as a result of synthesis of RNA polymerase de novo. The correlation of tryptophan concentration and RNA polymerase activity appears to reflect the general amino acid concentration required to support hepatic protein synthesis and to produce new RNA polymerase. This new polymerase appears to differ from the basal RNA polymerase by its rapid synthesis and destruction, which may be a means of regulating RNA synthesis by the amino acid concentration in the liver.

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Deoxyribonucleic acid-dependent ribonucleic acid polymerase activity in rat liver after protein restriction.

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