Salicylate-induced inhibition of collagen and mucopolysaccharide biosynthesis by a chick embryo cell-free system

The ability of a chick embryo cell-free system to synthesize collagen, mucopolysaccharide and non-collagen protein in the presence of sodium salicylate was studied. Added creatine phosphate together with endogenous creatine kinase was the ATP generating system. The incorporation of labelled proline or labelled glucose into collagen or mucopolysaccharide respectively depended on ATP level in the cell-free system used. Salicylate inhibited collagen and mucopolysaccharide synthesis to a greater extent than non-collagen protein synthesis. The ability of the cell-free system to hydroxylate labelled protocollagen was inhibited 50% by storage at −18°. Ferrous iron reversed this inhibition. Salicylate prevented the restoration of the enzyme activity by ferrous iron. Incorporation of radioactivity into hyaluronic acid, when labelled UDP-glucuronic acid and UDP-N-acetylglucosamine were supplied, was inhibited 17% by salicylate. Under the same conditions 47% inhibition of incorporation into chondroitin sulphate was seen. This suggests that UDP-N-acetyl-glucosamine-UDP-N-acetylgalactosamine epimerase is inhibited by salicylate.