The Effect of Noradrenaline on Polyamine and Rna Synthesis in the Chick Embryo

Abstract

While the role of catecholamines in carbohydrate metabolism is well known (Sutherland & Robinson, 1966) we have little knowledge of the relationship between these hormones and the metabolism of proteins, in particular the biosynthesis of nucleic acids (Decallonne, Briquet, Lambert & Wiaux, 1967) Since noradrenaline (NA) appears to exert some regulatory control on cell function (Iversen, 1967), we have studied the effect of this chemical mediator on the metabolism of RNA and polyamines (spermine and spermidine). Previous work has demonstrated the existence of a close relationship between these components; in particular, aliphatic polyamines were shown to enhance the synthesis of both nuclear and cytoplasmic nucleic acids in chick embryos when the content of spermine and spermidine was experimentally increased (Moruzzi, Barbiroli & Caldarera, 1968). 15 30 45 60 Minutes after hormone treatment Spermidine Spermine 15 30 45 60 Minutes after hormone treatmentFig. 2 Fig. 1Fig. 1. Effect of noradrenaline on incorporation of [3H]formate into RNA of chick embryos. Each point is the average of three experiments. The vertical lines indicate the s.E. -, Control; A-A-treatment.Fig. 2. Effect of noradrenaline on incorporation of [14C]putrescine into spermine and spermidine of chick embryos. Each point is the average of three experiments. The vertical lines indicate the s.E. -#, Control; A-A. treatment.To demonstrate the effect of NA on the synthesis of polyamines and RNA we used chick embryos on the 8th day of incubation; the hormone was injected into the air space.[3H]Formate (25 \g=m\c) was injected 5 hr. before hormone treatment as an RNA

Polyamines and cellular adenosine 3′ :5′-cyclic monophosphate

“…In these cases, the activities of adenylate cyclase and protein kinase fluctuate during the cell cycle (Jungmann & Russell, 1977;Bachrach et al, 1978). It has been demonstrated that polyamines affect the activity of adenylate cyclase (Shah et al, 1975;Atmar et al, 1976;Caldarera et al, 1976;Sheth et al, 1976;Wright et al, 1976) and of cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase (Takai et al, 1976;Murray et al, 1976;Maenpaa, 1977;Hochmanetal., 1978), apparently by interacting with its catalytic subunit . This may be another self-regulatory mechanism which controls the synthesis of polyamines.…”