Metabolic studies on the sugars of nucleic acids: I. The isolation of pyrimidine-bound sugars and utilization of [ 14C 6]glucose for ribose formation in mammalian tissues in vitro

• Published in: Biochimica et biophysica acta. Specialized section on nucleic acids and related subjects Vol. 87; no. 4; pp. 541 - 553
• Main Author: Itzhaki, S.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier B.V 12.08.1964
• ISSN: 0926-6550; 1878-2256
• DOI: 10.1016/0926-6550(64)90272-5

The bromination of pyrimidine nucleosides and nucleotides has been investigated with the aim of applying this technique to the isolation of pyrimidine-bound ribose and deoxyribose of nucleic acid derivatives. Experimental factors have been examined and optimal conditions for obtaining high yields of the sugar have been determined. After acid hydrolysis of the treated compounds, the extent of release of the free ribose and deoxyribose has been measured by their specific colourimetric reactions as well as by their action as reducing sugars. The isolation procedure adopted has been found suitable in metabolic studies involving radioactive tracers. The utilization of [ 14C 6]glucose for the formation in vitro of purine-ribose of ribonucleic acid in rat tissues (thymus cells, slices of spleen and liver) and in mouse Ehrlich ascites tumour cells has been determined. The conversion of the labelled glucose into ribose is greatest in the thymus cells. Further, the incorporation of 14C is about three times greater in the purine-ribose than in the pyrimidine-ribose of the thymus ribonucleic acid; a similar result has been obtained in the case of the tumour cells.