Changes of CTP synthetase activity during postnatal rat brain development

CTP synthase: the hissing of the cellular serpent

CTP biosynthesis is carried out by two pathways: salvage and de novo. CTPsyn catalyzes the latter. The study of CTPsyn activity in mammalian cells began in the 1970s, and various fascinating discoveries were made regarding the role of CTPsyn in cancer and development. However, its ability to fit into a cellular serpent-like structure, termed 'cytoophidia,' was only discovered a decade ago by three independent groups of scientists. Although the self-assembly of CTPsyn into a filamentous structure is evolutionarily conserved, the enzyme activity upon this self-assembly varies in different species. CTPsyn is required for cellular development and homeostasis. Changes in the expression of CTPsyn cause developmental changes in Drosophila melanogaster. A high level of CTPsyn activity and formation of cytoophidia are often observed in rapidly proliferating cells such as in stem and cancer cells. Meanwhile, the deficiency of CTPsyn causes severe immunodeficiency leading to immunocompromised diseases caused by bacteria, viruses, and parasites, making CTPsyn an attractive therapeutic target. Here, we provide an overview of the role of CTPsyn in cellular and disease perspectives along with its potential as a drug target.

New perspectives on the roles of pyrimidines in the central nervous system

Since 1956, when exogenous uridine and cytidine were found to be necessary for the maintenance of perfused rat brain function, the co-existence of de novo synthesis, salvage pathways and removal of pyrimidine bases in the CNS has been a controversial subject. Here, we review studies on metabolites and enzymes of pyrimidine metabolism through more than 60 years. In view of known and newly-described inherited pyrimidine and purine disorders - some with complex clinical profiles of neurological impairments - we underline the necessity to investigate how the different pathways work together in the developing brain and then sustain plasticity, regeneration and neuro-transmission in the adult CNS. Experimentally, early incorporation studies in animal brain slices and homogenates with radio-labelled nucleosides or precursors demonstrated salvage activity or de novo synthesis. Later, the nucleoside transporters and organic anionic transporters underlying uptake of metabolites and anti-pyrimidine drugs in the CNS were identified. Recently, the expression of de novo enzymes in glial cells and neurons was verified using (immuno) histochemical and in-situ-hybridization techniques. Adult brain was shown to take up or produce all pyrimidine (deoxy) ribonucleosides or, after uptake and phosphorolysis of nucleosides, to make use of ribose for different purposes, including energy. More recently, non-canonical pyrimidine bases (5mC, 5hmC) have been found most notably in brain, pointing to considerable postreplicative DNA metabolism, with the need for pyrimidine-specific enzymes. Even more perspectives are emerging, with advances in genome analysis and in the manipulation of expression from the gene.

The effect of some platinum compounds on the activity of the CTP synthetase of Ehrlich ascites tumor cells: in vitro and in vivo studies

The present work investigates the effect of cis-DDP (DDP, diamminedichloroplatinum(II)), trans-DDP, SPC (spermine platinum(II) complex), and K2PtCl4 on the activity of the CTP synthetase in the cytosol of Ehrlich ascites tumor cells. To study their in vitro effect, the platinum compounds were supplemented to the incubation mixture for the enzyme assay. A concentration dependent inhibition of the CTP synthetase was found which was strongest in the case of trans-DDP. When ascites cells collected from mice, pretreated in vivo with platinum compounds, were used, the enzyme assay showed that the inhibition is strongest in the case of cis-DDP and K2PtCl4 (about 90% inhibition). This distinct inhibitory effect of the platinum compounds in the present experiments may be explained with the metabolic conversions of the compounds in the organism to their more active forms and/or with the inhibition of the protein biosynthesis under their influence because the lifetime of the CTP synthetase is short. This last assertion is proved in this work by control experiments with the antibiotic cycloheximide, which is an inhibitor of the protein biosynthesis.

Transcriptional control of ribosome production in regenerating rat liver

Kinetic experiments of labelling in vivo with [14C]orotate of cellular free UMP and/or UTP, nucleolar, nucleoplasmic and cytoplasmic rRNA in normal and 12 h-regenerating rat liver were performed. The specific-radioactivity curves obtained were analysed by computer and the rates of synthesis of precursor rRNA (45S pre-rRNA) and cytoplasmic 28S and 18S rRNA calculated. (a) The rates of synthesis of 45S pre-rRNA in normal and regenerating rat liver are 1400 and 3700 molecules/min per nucleus respectively; (b) the average rates of formation of mature 28S and 18S rRNA are identical with the rates of synthesis of 45S pre-rRNA in both normal and regenerating rat liver. Thus the synthesis of rRNA in 12h-regenerating rat liver is activated 2.7-fold. The analysis of rRNA synthesis in isolated nucleoli also shows a 2.7-fold stimulation of transcription in regenerating liver. It is concluded that all the 45S pre-rRNA molecules synthesized are processed and transferred as 28S and 18S rRNA in the cytoplasm, i.e. degradation (wastage) of newly synthesized ribosomes in the nucleus does not occur in both normal and regenerating rat liver. Thus the enhanced production of ribosomes in regenerating rat liver is regulated only at the transcriptional level.