Abstract
This chapter discusses the analysis of nucleotide pools in animal cells. Nucleotides act as carriers and reservoirs of chemical energy, they participate as cofactors, activators, inhibitors, and substrates in myriad enzymatic reactions, and they are the precursors for polymerization of nucleic acids. Most of these processes exhibit some type of dependence of rate on the concentration of participating nucleotides, and in some cases the rate may even be controlled by nucleotide concentration. To establish the existence of such control in vivo , it is necessary to measure intracellular nucleotide concentrations, or pools. The chapter presents a model for nucleotide pools. There are four basic pathways by which components may enter or leave the pool—hence the name “four-factor model”, viz., two processes (anabolism and salvage) supply the pool, and two others (catabolism and utilization) drain it. These processes would apply to the thymine nucleotide pool. The turnover rate of a pool is proportional to the fraction of the pool per unit time which is drained by catabolism and utilization. Conditions which change the draining reactions will affect the turnover rate.
Published Version
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call