Interference of a synthetic C 18 juvenile hormone and related insect growth regulators with macromolecular biosynthesis in mammalian cells

Abstract

Two juvenile hormone analogs (JHA), methoprene (ZR-0515), and ZR-0619 and a synthetic C 18 juvenile hormone (JH) itself were compared in their effects on protein and nucleic acid biosynthesis and on the viability of mouse L cells. A short-time exposure of the cells, suspended in phosphate-buffered saline, to the labeled precursors of protein, DNA or RNA, and to juvenile hormone, methoprene, or ZR-0619 (2–100 μg/ml) considerably depressed the synthesis of these macromolecules. The effects of the juvenile hormone were evidently stronger than those of methoprene or ZR-0619. RNA synthesis was affected to a lesser extent than protein or DNA synthesis. Under the same experimental conditions, both the JHA were less cytocidal than the juvenile hormone itself. Calf serum added to the incubation mixture protected the cells against the effects of juvenile hormone and the JHA.