The type and time of occurrence of aminopterin-induced chromosome aberrations in cultured potorous cells

Walter N. Hittelman

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

8 Scopus citations

Abstract

Many inhibitors of DNA synthesis have been found to induce chromosome aberrations. Our kinetic studies indicate that treatment of cellswith 10-7 M aminopterin in the presence of 10-4M glycine, 10-4 M hypoxanthine, and 10-4 M thymidine allows continued normal cell growth. Omission of thymidine, a treatment which is known to inhibit DNA synthesis while allowing RNA and protein synthesis to continue, leads to cessation of cell growth. Treament of Potorous cell cultures with aminopterin in the presence of hypoxanthine and glycine without thymidine led to the following observations: (1) only non-exchange chromatid aberrations were formed after aminopterin treatment; (2) the aberrations were induced only in cells treated during S, and the breaks were associated with the replicating region of the chromosome; (3) breaks were observed at the first metaphase after the beginning of treatment; and (4) thymidine could reverse the chromosome-breaking action of aminopterin. A model for the molecular mechanism is suggested.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)93-102
Number of pages10
JournalMutation Research - Fundamental and Molecular Mechanisms of Mutagenesis
Volume18
Issue number1
DOIs
StatePublished - Apr 1973

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Molecular Biology
  • Genetics
  • Health, Toxicology and Mutagenesis

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