Qualitative and quantitative aspects of the biosynthesis of ribonucleic acid and of protein in the liver and the lung of the Syrian golden hamster.

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1. The incorporation of orotic acid and of uridine into total RNA was measured in vivo in liver and lung of the Syrian golden hamster. Specific activities of total acid-soluble UMP were measured in both organs. An estimation of the rate of RNA biosynthesis showed that hamster lung synthesizes RNA at about one-half of the rate of that of hamster liver. 2. The apparent K(m) and V(max.) values of a few enzymes involved in pyrimidine biosynthesis were measured in the 100000g supernatants of liver and lung. The apparent K(m) values were very similar in both organs. From the estimated V(max.,) it was concluded that hamster lung cells have less capacity to metabolize orotic acid than have liver cells. 3. A time-response and a dose-response study showed that actinomycin D inhibits pulmonary RNA synthesis as efficiently as hepatic RNA synthesis. 4. Protein synthesis, measured as the incorporation of leucine, was inhibited in both organs 30min after a dose of 2mg of cycloheximide/kg. The dose-response patterns were similar in both liver and lung 3h after cycloheximide. 5. It is concluded that RNA and protein synthesis in vivo in hamster lung are very similar to the corresponding reactions in liver. Alterations of RNA and protein synthesis by toxic agents can therefore be evaluated in lung with a similar approach to that used to study the pathological biochemistry of liver.