Effect of cordycepin triphosphate on the nuclear DNA-dependent RNA polymerases and poly(A) polymerase from the yeast, Saccharomyces cerevisiae

Cordycepin: A review of strategies to improve the bioavailability and efficacy

Cordycepin is a bioactive compound extracted from Cordyceps militaris. As a natural antibiotic, cordycepin has a wide variety of pharmacological effects. Unfortunately, this highly effective natural antibiotic is proved to undergo rapid deamination by adenosine deaminase (ADA) in vivo and, as a consequence, its half-life is shortened and bioavailability is decreased. Therefore, it is of critical importance to work out ways to slow down the deamination so as to increase its bioavailability and efficacy. This study reviews recent researches on a series of aspects of cordycepin such as the bioactive molecule's pharmacological action, metabolism and transformation as well as the underlying mechanism, pharmacokinetics and, particularly, the methods for reducing the degradation to improve the bioavailability and efficacy. It is drawn that there are three methods that can be applied to improve the bioavailability and efficacy: to co-administrate an ADA inhibitor and cordycepin, to develop more effective derivatives via structural modification, and to apply new drug delivery systems. The new knowledge can help optimize the application of the highly potent natural antibiotic-cordycepin and develop novel therapeutic strategies.

Engineering Komagataella phaffii to biosynthesize cordycepin from methanol which drives global metabolic alterations at the transcription level

Cordycepin has the potential to be an alternative to the disputed herbicide glyphosate. However, current laborious and time-consuming production strategies at low yields based on Cordyceps militaris lead to extremely high cost and restrict its application in the field of agriculture. In this study, Komagataella phaffii (syn. Pichia pastoris) was engineered to biosynthesize cordycepin from methanol, which could be converted from CO2. Combined with fermentation optimization, cordycepin content in broth reached as high as 2.68 ± 0.04 g/L within 168 h, around 15.95 mg/(L·h) in productivity. Additionally, a deaminated product of cordycepin was identified at neutral or weakly alkaline starting pH during fermentation. Transcriptome analysis found the yeast producing cordycepin was experiencing severe inhibition in methanol assimilation and peroxisome biogenesis, responsible for delayed growth and decreased carbon flux to pentose phosphate pathway (PPP) which led to lack of precursor supply. Amino acid interconversion and disruption in RNA metabolism were also due to accumulation of cordycepin. The study provided a unique platform for the manufacture of cordycepin based on the emerging non-conventional yeast and gave practical strategies for further optimization of the microbial cell factory.

Dose-Dependent Effect of Cordycepin on Viability, Proliferation, Cell Cycle, and Migration in Dental Pulp Stem Cells

Simple Summary

Cordycepin is an adenosine analogue isolated from the fungus Cordyceps militaris. Cordycepin is a nucleoside antimetabolite that has shown a broad spectrum of biological activity including antineoplastic activity. limited research has been carried out on the effects of Cordycepin on the regenerative potential of stem cells, including dental pulp-derived mesenchymal stem cells. The present study was designed to assess if Cordycepin could enhance the vital properties of dental pulp-derived mesenchymal stem cells for regenerative purposes.

Abstract

Objective: To examine the effect of Cordycepin on the viability, proliferation, and migratory properties of dental pulp-derived mesenchymal stem cells. Materials and methods: The pulp was derived from human premolar teeth extracted for orthodontic purposes after obtaining informed consent. The samples were transferred to the laboratory for processing. DPSCs were expanded and characterized using flow cytometry and differentiation to the bone, adipose, and cartilage cells was examined. MTT Assay was performed using various concentrations of Cordycepin. The growth curve was plotted for 13 days. Cell cycle analysis was performed by flow cytometry. Migratory ability was assessed by wound healing assay. ROS generation was detected by flow cytometry. Gene expression was quantified by RT-qPCR. Statistical analysis was performed. p < 0.05 was considered as significant and p < 0.01 was considered as highly significant (* p < 0.05, and ** p < 0.01). Results: DPSCs expressed characteristic MSC-specific markers and trilineage differentiation. Cordycepin at lower concentrations did not affect the viability of DPSCs. The growth curve of cells showed a dose-dependent increase in cell numbers till the maximum dose. DPSCs treated with 2.5 µM Cordycepin was found to have a reduced G1 phase cell percentage. DPSCs treated with 2.5 µM and 5 µM Cordycepin showed a significant decrease in G2 phase cells. No significant difference was observed for S phase cells. Cordycepin treatment affected the migratory ability in DPSCs in a concentration-dependent manner. Conclusion: Cordycepin can be used at therapeutic doses to maintain stem cells.

Genetic and pharmacological evidence for kinetic competition between alternative poly(A) sites in yeast

Most eukaryotic mRNAs accommodate alternative sites of poly(A) addition in the 3’ untranslated region in order to regulate mRNA function. Here, we present a systematic analysis of 3’ end formation factors, which revealed 3’UTR lengthening in response to a loss of the core machinery, whereas a loss of the Sen1 helicase resulted in shorter 3’UTRs. We show that the anti-cancer drug cordycepin, 3’ deoxyadenosine, caused nucleotide accumulation and the usage of distal poly(A) sites. Mycophenolic acid, a drug which reduces GTP levels and impairs RNA polymerase II (RNAP II) transcription elongation, promoted the usage of proximal sites and reversed the effects of cordycepin on alternative polyadenylation. Moreover, cordycepin-mediated usage of distal sites was associated with a permissive chromatin template and was suppressed in the presence of an rpb1 mutation, which slows RNAP II elongation rate. We propose that alternative polyadenylation is governed by temporal coordination of RNAP II transcription and 3’ end processing and controlled by the availability of 3’ end factors, nucleotide levels and chromatin landscape.

The Anticancer Properties of Cordycepin and Their Underlying Mechanisms

Cordyceps is a genus of ascomycete fungi that has been used for traditional herbal remedies. It contains various bioactive ingredients including cordycepin. Cordycepin, also known as 3-deoxyadenosine, is a major compound and has been suggested to have anticancer potential. The treatment of various cancer cells with cordycepin in effectively induces cell death and retards their cancerous properties. However, the underlying mechanism is not fully understood. Recent evidence has shed light on the molecular pathways involving cysteine-aspartic proteases (caspases), mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs), and glycogen synthase kinase 3 beta (GSK-3β). Furthermore, the pathways are mediated by putative receptors, such as adenosine receptors (ADORAs), death receptors (DRs), and the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR). This review provides the molecular mechanisms by which cordycepin functions as a singular or combinational anticancer therapeutic agent.

Global profiling of stimulus-induced polyadenylation in cells using a poly(A) trap

Polyadenylation of mRNA leads to increased protein expression in response to diverse stimuli, but it is difficult to identify mRNAs that become polyadenylated in living cells. Here we describe a click chemistry-compatible nucleoside analog that is selectively incorporated into poly(A) tails of transcripts in cells. Next-generation sequencing of labeled mRNAs enables a transcriptome-wide profile of polyadenylation and provides insights into the mRNA sequence elements that are correlated with polyadenylation.

Cordycepin increases sensitivity of Hep3B human hepatocellular carcinoma cells to TRAIL-mediated apoptosis by inactivating the JNK signaling pathway

Resistance to tumor necrosis factor-related apoptosis‑inducing ligand (TRAIL)-induced apoptosis has been reported in various cancer cells. Cordycepin, a specific polyadenylation inhibitor, is the main functional component in Cordyceps militaris, which possesses many pharmacological activities including antitumor and anti-inflammation. In the present study, we demonstrated that treatment of cordycepin sensitized TRAIL-resistant Hep3B human hepatocellular carcinoma cells to TRAIL-mediated apoptosis as evidenced by formation of apoptotic bodies, chromatin condensation and accumulation of cells in the sub-G1 phase. The induction of apoptosis following co-treatment with cordycepin and TRAIL in Hep3B cells appeared to be correlated with modulation of Bcl-2 family protein expression and activation of the caspase cascade, which resulted in the cleavage of poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase and β-catenin. In addition, cordycepin treatment also inhibited activation of c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK). Pretreatment with SP600125, a JNK inhibitor, resulted in a significantly increased sub-G1 population and caspase activity in cordycepin plus TRAIL-mediated apoptosis. Taken together, these results indicate that JNK acts as a key regulator of apoptosis in response to combined treatment with cordycepin and TRAIL in human hepatocellular carcinoma Hep3B cells.

Apoptosis induction of human prostate carcinoma cells by cordycepin through reactive oxygen species‑mediated mitochondrial death pathway

Cordycepin is the main functional component of Cordyceps militaris, which has been widely used in oriental traditional medicine. This compound has been shown to possess many pharmacological properties, such as enhancing the body's immune function, and anti-inflammatory, anti-aging and anticancer effects. In the present study, we investigated the apoptotic effects of cordycepin in human prostate carcinoma cells. We found that treatment with cordycepin significantly inhibited cell growth by inducing apoptosis in PC-3 cells. Apoptosis induction of PC-3 cells by cordycepin showed correlation with proteolytic activation of caspase-3 and -9, but not caspase-8, and concomitant degradation of poly (ADP-ribose) polymerases, collapse of the mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP). In addition, cordycepin treatment resulted in an increase of the Bax/Bcl-2 (or Bcl-xL) ratio, downregulation of inhibitor of apoptosis protein (IAP) family members, Bax conformational changes, and release of cytochrome c from the mitochondria to the cytosol. The cordycepin-induced apoptosis was also associated with the generation of intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS). However, the quenching of ROS generation with antioxidant N-acetyl-L-cysteine conferred significant protection against cordycepin-elicited ROS generation, disruption of the MMP, modulation of Bcl-2 and IAP family proteins, caspase-3 and -9 activation and apoptosis. This indicates that the cellular ROS generation plays a pivotal role in the initiation of cordycepin-triggered apoptotic death. Collectively, our findings suggest that cordycepin is a potent inducer of apoptosis of prostate cancer cells via a mitochondrial-mediated intrinsic pathway and that this agent may be of value in the development of a potential therapeutic candidate for both the prevention and treatment of cancer.

mRNAs containing the histone 3' stem-loop are degraded primarily by decapping mediated by oligouridylation of the 3' end

Metazoan replication-dependent histone mRNAs are only present in S-phase, due partly to changes in their stability. These mRNAs end in a unique stem-loop (SL) that is required for both translation and cell-cycle regulation. Previous studies showed that histone mRNA degradation occurs through both 5'→3' and 3'→5' processes, but the relative contributions are not known. The 3' end of histone mRNA is oligouridylated during its degradation, although it is not known whether this is an essential step. We introduced firefly luciferase reporter mRNAs containing the histone 3' UTR SL (Luc-SL) and either a normal or hDcp2-resistant cap into S-phase HeLa cells. Both mRNAs were translated, and translation initially protected the mRNAs from degradation, but there was a lag of ∼40 min with the uncleavable cap compared to ∼8 min for the normal cap before rapid decay. Knockdown of hDcp2 resulted in a similar longer lag for Luc-SL containing a normal cap, indicating that 5'→3' decay is important in this system. Inhibition of DNA replication with hydroxyurea accelerated the degradation of Luc-SL. Knockdown of terminal uridyltransferase (TUTase) 4 but not TUTase 3 slowed the decay process, but TUTase 4 knockdown had no effect on destabilization of the mRNA by hydroxyurea. Both Luc-SL and its 5' decay intermediates were oligouridylated. Preventing oligouridylation by 3'-deoxyadenosine (cordycepin) addition to the mRNA slowed degradation, in the presence or absence of hydroxyurea, suggesting oligouridylation initiates degradation. The spectrum of oligouridylated fragments suggests the 3'→5' degradation machinery stalls during initial degradation, whereupon reuridylation occurs.

Induction of apoptosis by cordycepin via reactive oxygen species generation in human leukemia cells

Cordycepin (3'-deoxyadenosin), a specific polyadenylation inhibitor, is the main functional component in Cordyceps militaris, one of the top three renowned traditional Chinese medicines. Cordycepin has been shown to possess many pharmacological activities including immunological stimulation, and anti-bacterial, anti-viral, and anti-tumor effects. However, the mechanisms underlying its anti-cancer mechanisms are not yet understood. In this study, the apoptotic effects of cordycepin were investigated in human leukemia cells. Treatment with cordycepin significantly inhibited cell growth in a concentration-dependent manner by inducing apoptosis but not necrosis. This induction was associated with generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS), mitochondrial dysfunction, activation of caspases, and cleavage of poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase protein. However, apoptosis induced by cordycepin was attenuated by caspase inhibitors, indicating an important role for caspases in cordycepin responses. Administration of N-acetyl-l-cysteine, a scavenger of ROS, also significantly inhibited cordycepin-induced apoptosis and activation of caspases. These results support a mechanism whereby cordycepin induces apoptosis of human leukemia cells through a signaling cascade involving a ROS-mediated caspase pathway.

Cordycepin interferes with 3' end formation in yeast independently of its potential to terminate RNA chain elongation

Cordycepin (3' deoxyadenosine) is a biologically active compound that, when incorporated during RNA synthesis in vitro, provokes chain termination due to the absence of a 3' hydroxyl moiety. We were interested in the effects mediated by this drug in vivo and analyzed its impact on RNA metabolism of yeast. Our results support the view that cordycepin-triphosphate (CoTP) is the toxic component that is limiting cell growth through inhibition of RNA synthesis. Unexpectedly, cordycepin treatment modulated 3' end heterogeneity of ACT1 and ASC1 mRNAs and rapidly induced extended transcripts derived from CYH2 and NEL025c loci. Moreover, cordycepin ameliorated the growth defects of poly(A) polymerase mutants and the pap1-1 mutation neutralized the effects of the drug on gene expression. Our observations are consistent with an epistatic relationship between poly(A) polymerase function and cordycepin action and suggest that a major mode of cordycepin activity reduces 3' end formation efficiency independently of its potential to terminate RNA chain elongation. Finally, chemical-genetic profiling revealed genome-wide pathways linked to cordycepin activity and identified novel genes involved in poly(A) homeostasis.

Cordycepin-hypersensitive growth links elevated polyphosphate levels to inhibition of poly(A) polymerase in Saccharomyces cerevisiae

To identify genes involved in poly(A) metabolism, we screened the yeast gene deletion collection for growth defects in the presence of cordycepin (3′-deoxyadenosine), a precursor to the RNA chain terminating ATP analog cordycepin triphosphate. Δpho80 and Δpho85 strains, which have a constitutively active phosphate-response pathway, were identified as cordycepin hypersensitive. We show that inorganic polyphosphate (poly P) accumulated in these strains and that poly P is a potent inhibitor of poly(A) polymerase activity in vitro. Binding analyses of poly P and yeast Pap1p revealed an interaction with a k_D in the low nanomolar range. Poly P also bound mammalian poly(A) polymerase, however, with a 10-fold higher k_D compared to yeast Pap1p. Genetic tests with double mutants of Δpho80 and other genes involved in phosphate homeostasis and poly P accumulation suggest that poly P contributed to cordycepin hypersensitivity. Synergistic inhibition of mRNA synthesis through poly P-mediated inhibition of Pap1p and through cordycepin-mediated RNA chain termination may thus account for hypersensitive growth of Δpho80 and Δpho85 strains in the presence of the chain terminator. Consistent with this, a mutation in the 3′-end formation component rna14 was synthetic lethal in combination with Δpho80. Based on these observations, we suggest that binding of poly P to poly(A) polymerase negatively regulates its activity.

A sensitive, single-tube assay to measure the enzymatic activities of influenza RNA polymerase and other poly(A) polymerases: application to kinetic and inhibitor analysis

We describe a fast and robust new assay format to measure poly(A) polymerase (PAP) activity in a microtiter plate format. The new assay principle uses only natural nucleotide triphosphates and avoids a labour-intensive filtration step. A coupled enzymatic system combining PAP and reverse transcriptase forms the basis of the assay. The PAP generates a poly(A) tail on a RNA substrate and the reverse transcriptase is used to quantify the polyadenylated RNA by extension of a biotinylated oligo-dT primer. We demonstrate the principle of the assay using influenza virus RNA polymerase and yeast PAP as examples. A specific increase in the K(m) value for ATP and the observation of burst kinetics in the polyadenylation dependent, but not in the polyadenylation independent, assay suggest that a rate limiting step of influenza polymerase activity occurs after transcription elongation. Yeast PAP was used to validate the assay as an example of a template independent PAP. The new yeast PAP assay was approximately 100-fold more sensitive than the conventional TCA precipitation assay for yeast PAP, but the kinetic analysis of the PAP reaction gave similar results in both assays. The two enzymes show important differences with respect to inhibition by 3'-deoxy-ATP. Whereas the K(i) value for 3'-deoxy-ATP (105-117 microM) is similar to the K(m) value for ATP (186 microM) in the case of influenza RNA polymerase, the K(i) value for 3'-deoxy-ATP (0.4-0.6 microM) is approximately 100-fold lower than the K(m) value for ATP (50 microM) in the case of yeast PAP.

Accurate transcription of cloned Neurospora RNA polymerase II-dependent genes in vitro by homologous soluble extracts

We have developed soluble extracts from Neurospora crassa capable of accurately initiating the transcription of cloned Neurospora protein-encoding genes by RNA polymerase II in vitro. The genes encoding glutamate dehydrogenase (am) and histones H3 and H4 were transcribed by the extracts, and transcription was sensitive to alpha-amanitin at 1 mg/ml. The 5' heterogeneity of the in vitro initiation reactions was highly specific. Of the 17 transcription initiation sites within the inducible qa gene cluster, only one minor site was used in vitro, suggesting that, in general, transcription from qa gene promoters requires at least one different protein from those required for transcription of the am and histone genes.

Structure of a Neurospora RNA polymerase I promoter defined by transcription in vitro with homologous extracts

A Neurospora in vitro transcription system has been developed which specifically and efficiently initiates transcription of a cloned Neurospora crassa ribosomal RNA gene by RNA polymerase I. The initiation site of transcription (both in vitro and in vivo) appears to be located about 850 bp from the 5' end of mature 17S rRNA. However, the primary rRNA transcripts are normally cleaved very rapidly at a site 120-125 nt from the 5' end in vitro and in vivo. The nucleotide sequence surrounding the initiation site has been determined. The region from -16 to +9 exhibits partial homology to the corresponding sequences from a wide variety of organisms including yeast, but the most striking similarity is to the initiation region from Dictyostelium discoideum which displays 73% homology to the Neurospora sequence from -23 to +47. The Neurospora sequences from -96 to +97 have been shown to be sufficient for transcription. This region contains two sequences displaying 8/9 bp matches to elements of the 5S rDNA promoter.

Accurate transcription of homologous 5S rRNA and tRNA genes and splicing of tRNA in vitro by soluble extracts of Neurospora

We have developed soluble extracts from Neurospora crassa capable of accurately and efficiently transcribing homologous 5S rRNA and tRNA genes. The extracts also appear to quantitatively end-process and splice the primary tRNA transcripts. Although the extracts could not transcribe a heterologous (yeast) 5S rRNA gene, they did transcribe a yeast tRNALeu gene and slowly process the transcripts. In addition, we have developed a novel strategy for rapidly sequencing uniformly labelled RNAs using base-specific ribonucleases. We have used this procedure to verify the identity of the in vitro transcripts and processing products.

Nuclear RNA metabolism in rat hippocampal slices incubated in vitro

Rat hippocampal slices were incubated with [3H]uridine in vitro to analyze the metabolism of nuclear RNA and the RNA precursor fractions. Labeling of total nuclear RNA was linear for 4 h of incubation and proportional to the concentration of labeled uridine in the incubation medium. Addition of 3.5 X 10(-8) M corticosterone to the incubation medium produced an enhancement of nuclear RNA labeling with no significant effect on the labeling of the RNA precursor fraction. Progesterone and dexamethasone, at the same concentration, had no effect on either variable. Labeling of RNA by cerebellar slices under the same conditions was approximately one-half the value obtained using hippocampal slices and the cerebellar RNA precursor fraction accumulated only 65% of the radioactivity from [3H]uridine found in the hippocampal pool. Corticosterone had no effect on the labeling of total nuclear RNA in cerebellar slices. Nuclear poly(A)-containing RNA constituted 19% of the total labeled nuclear RNA in these incubations, as estimated by oligo (dT)-cellulose chromatography. Cordycepin (3'-deoxyadenosine) at a concentration of 25 micrograms/ml inhibited to some extent the labeling of total nuclear RNA and the RNA precursor fraction, but preferentially diminished the amount of labeled RNA bound to oligo (dT)-cellulose. Corticosterone increased the amount of [3H]RNA which bound to oligo (dT)-cellulose, while progesterone had no effect. These results show that hippocampal slices maintained in vitro, can be used to analyze nuclear RNA metabolism, one positive regulator of which in the rat hippocampus is the adrenal steroid, corticosterone.

Inhibitory effects of 3'deoxycytidine 5'-triphosphate and 3'-deoxyuridine 5'-triphosphate on DNA-dependent RNA polymerases I and II purified from Dictyostelium discoideum cells

3'-Deoxycytidine 5'-triphosphate and 3'-deoxyuridine 5'-triphosphate were synthesized starting from cordycepin in good yield. The inhibitory effects of these nucleotides were examined in comparison with that of cordycepin 5'-triphosphate (3'-dATP) using purified DNA-dependent RNA polymerases I and II from Dictyostelium discoideum cells. Both nucleotide analogues strongly and competitively inhibited the incorporations of CTP and UTP into RNA by the RNA polymerases. The Km and Ki values for CTP and 3'-dCTP were 6.3 micro M and 3.0 micro M, respectively, and those for UTP and 3'-dUTP were 6.3 micro M and 2.0 micro M, respectively. These two analogues will be useful in studies at the molecular level on the relationship of template and substrate in RNA synthesis with chromatin, isolated nuclei or permeable cells, because they do not have any effect on poly (rA) synthesis.

Regulation of sterol synthesis in human lymphocytes: evidence for post-transcriptional control by low density lipoprotein

The effect of cordycepin (3'-deoxyadenosine), an inhibitor of messenger RNA synthesis, on the induction of 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A reductase mediated by lipid-depleted serum was studied in isolated human lymphocytes. 50 micrograms/ml cordycepin, although inhibiting messenger RNA synthesis by more than 50%, had no inhibitory effect on the two and four-fold induction of hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA reductase when cells were incubated in a medium containing lipid-depleted serum for 8 and 16 h, respectively. This result suggests that newly synthesises messenger RNA is not required for the effect of lipid-depleted serum on the induction of hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA reductase in human lymphocytes.

Enhancement of radiation killing of cultured mammalian cells by cordycepin

Asynchronous populations of rat hepatoma cells (H4) in log-phase growth survived a 3-hour exposure to cordycepin (3'-deoxyadenosine), and RNA antimetabolite, in a simple exponential fashion with a 'DO' of 43.8 microM/l. When cordycepin-treated cells were exposed to X-irradiation, the resultant survival levels were much lower than one would expect were the agents simply additive. Patterns of X-ray survival of cells treated with cordycepin were dependent on drug concentration, the predominant effect being to decrease the DO of the X-ray survival curve. The increased sensitivity of cells exposed to cordycepin to subsequent X-ray treatment persists for longer than 4 hours after drug administration. Although immediate cordycepin post-treatment of X-irradiated cells is less effective than pre-treatment, the interaction is still significant. Cordycepin treatment did not appear to reduce split-dose recovery or to inhibit the rejoining of single-strand breaks as measured by DNA sedimentation in alkaline-sucrose gradients.

Specific inhibition of chromatin-associated poly(A) synthesis in vitro by cordycepin 5′-triphosphate

It has been established that many eukaryotic mRNAs contain poly(adenylic acid) tracts at their 3'-termini. The polyadenylation of mRNA occurs post-transcriptionally in the nucleus as a rapid, initial addition of 100-200 adenylate residues to the pre-mRNA (ref. 1). Subsequently, a slower chain extension (6-8 bases) of the poly(A) tail seems to occur both in the nucleus and in the cytoplasm. The initial polyadenylation reaction can be specifically inhibited by the drug cordycepin (3'-deoxyadenosine) in cell culture, presumably by its conversion to the triphosphate analogue which acts as a competitive inhibitor of poly(A) polymerase. Cordycepin, however, has little effect on the slower poly(A) extension reaction or on the formation of mRNA precursor molecules; but it can inhibit rRNA synthesis. Contrary to the in vitro observations, cordycepin 5'-triphosphate (3'dATP) is not a specific inhibitor of poly(A) synthesis in vivo, relative to RNA synthesis, and RNA polymerase I (which synthesises rRNA) is actually less sensitive to inhibition by 3'dATP than RNA polymerase II (ref. 10) (which is presumed to be involved in the synthesis of mRNA). Since nuclear poly(A) polymerase occurs in two functional states as 'free' and 'chromatin-bound' forms, we reasoned that if the chromatin-associated poly(A) polymerase were involved in the initial polyadenylation of mRNA, it might be selectively inhibited by 3'dATP. The present studies, designed to test such an idea, demonstrate that, as in vivo, the initial polyadenylation reaction can be selectively inhibited in vitro by low levels of 3'dATP. These data also show that higher levels of 3'dATP can inhibit RNA synthesis, 'chromatin-bound' RNA polymerase I activity being significantly more sensitive than the 'bound' RNA polymerase II activity.

Selective inhibition of initial polyadenylation in isolated nuclei by low levels of cordycepin 5"-triphosphate

The effect of cordycepin 5'-triphosphate on poly(A) synthesis was investigated in isolated rat hepatic nuclei. Nuclei were incubated in the absence and presence of exogenous primer in order to distinguish the chromatin-associated poly(A) polymerase from the "free" enzyme (Jacob, S.T., Roe, F.J. and Rose, K.M. (1976) Biochem. J. 153, 733--735). The chromatin-bound enzyme, which adds adenylate residues onto the endogenous RNA, was selectively inhibited at low concentrations of cordycepin 5'-triphosphate, 50% inhibition being achieved at 2microng/ml. At least 80 times more inhibitor was required for 50% reduction in the "free" nuclear poly(A) polymerase activity. Inhibition of DNA-dependent RNA synthesis also required higher concentrations of the nucleotide analogue. These data not only offer a mechanism for the selective inhibition of initial polyadenylation of heterogeneous nuclear RNA in vivo by cordycepin, but also provide a satisfactory explanation for the indiscriminate effect of the inhibitor on partially purified or "free" poly(A) and RNA polymerases.

Survival of synchronized V79 cells treated with X-rays and cordycepin

The survival of V79 Chinese hamster lung cells exposed to X-irradiation is reduced by co-treatment with cordycepin (3'-deoxyadenosine). This reduction is manifested principally by a decrease in the D0 of the X-ray survival curve from 199 rad in untreated cells to 106 rad in cordycepin-treated cells. Reduced survival is seen throughout the life-cycle when synchronized cell populations are exposed to both agents with cells in mid-S being especially sensitive.