Thymidine catabolism and the reutilization of its degradative products in Tetrahymena pyriformis. Metabolism of [2,6-14C2]thymidine and [2-14C]methylmalonic acid.

The operation of reductive pyrimidine catabolic and reutilization pathway in Tetrahymena pyriformis was investigated. Consistent with the proposed catabolic interconversions, radioactivity from [2,6-14C2]thymidine was recovered in respired CO2 30 min after its addition to the culture, whereas, consistent with the proposed anabolic interconversions, over 50% of the incorporated label was recovered in cellular macromolecules other than DNA 12 h after its addition. The chromatographic recovery of 14C radioactivity in monosaccharides from [2,6-14C2]thymidine as well as from [2-14C]methylmalonic acid, a key reutilization intermediate in this proposed pathway, further substantiated the operation of the required anabolic interconversions in this organism.

The methylated purines of Tetrahymena pyriformis transfer ribonucleic acid.

By phenol extraction and DEAE cellulose column chromatography, tRNA was isolated from Tetrahymena pyriformis strain GL. Following acid hydrolysis of the tRNA, the methylated purine content was determined by Dowex 50 column chromatography and paper chromatography. The most abundant methylated guanine derivative was found to be N2-DMG.

Prevention of 5-fluorouracil-caused growth inhibition in Sordaria fimicola.

Growth (dry weight accumulation) of Sordaria fimicola in standing liquid culture (sucrose-nitrate-salts-vitamins) is inhibited by the presence of 5 muM 5-fluorouracil in the medium. This inhibition is completely prevented by uracil, deoxyuridine, and 5-bromouracil, partly prevented (40 to 90% of growth observed without 5-fluorouracil) by uridine, thymidine, and 5-bromodeoxyuridine, and slightly prevented by trifluorothymine, cytosine, cytidine, deoxycytidine, and 5-methylcytosine (all at 0.5 to 1 mM).