Thymidinekinases and deoxyribonucleic acid synthesis in normal and regenerating rat liver

• Published in: Biochimica et biophysica acta. Specialized section on nucleic acids and related subjects Vol. 61; no. 5; pp. 728 - 735
• Main Authors: Bianchi, P.A., Crathon, A.R., Shooter, K.V.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier B.V 26.11.1962
• ISSN: 0926-6550; 1878-2256
• DOI: 10.1016/0926-6550(62)90055-5

Studies of the phosphorylatin of thymidine and its incorporation into DNA in normal and regenerating rat liver in vivo have been paralled by investigations of the ability of particle-free fractions of liver to phosphoryte thymidine in vitro. It has been found that a marked increase in the activity of the thymidine kinase measured in vitro occurs at the time when DNA synthesis begins but an increase in the level of thymidylate kinase does not occur until some 2 h later. Experiments in vivo show that the thymidine kinases are present in normal rat liver and during the early stages of DNA synthesis following partial hepatectomy. Possible explanations of these results are considered.