Publications by authors named "Szafarz D"

Tritium-labeled 3-methyldibenzo(c,g)carbazole and 5,9-dimethyldibenzo(c,g)-carbazole, 2 organ-specific hepatocarcinogens in mice, were given intraperitoneally to partially hepatectomized animals at various times during the first cell division cycle following surgery. The former compound, more potent and cytotoxic, gave more striking results showing that the maximum number of adducts per unit weight of DNA in liver were formed when the carcinogen was given at the beginning of the S phase, which is evidence for the role of DNA replication in the initiation step of carcinogenesis. Elimination of these adducts led after several days to a residual number of lesions which was of the same order whatever the time of carcinogen administration.

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A novel glutathione peroxidase, which is active toward hydroperoxides of phospholipid in the presence of a detergent, has been purified to homogeneity from a rat liver postmicrosomal supernatant fraction by ammonium sulfate fractionation and three different column chromatographies. From a DE52 column, glutathione peroxidase active toward phosphatidylcholine dilinoleoyl hydroperoxides was eluted in one major and two minor peaks. The enzyme in the major peak was found to be separated from the "classic" glutathione peroxidase and glutathione S-transferases and further purified by Sephacryl S-200 and Mono Q column chromatographies.

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The carcinogenicity of several groups of carcinogens is evoked with particular reference to Dibenzo(c,g)carbazole derivatives. The activity of these derivatives is discussed with respect to their species and organ specificity. The enzymatic equipment is decisive as to whether the compounds formed can react with DNA or are simply detoxified and eliminated.

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Formation of crosslinks in DNA by three bifunctional psoralen derivatives plus UVA light in mouse embryo fibroblasts was evaluated by a NaI density gradient centrifugation method. Psoralen was shown to be a more active cross-linking agent than 8-methoxypsoralen. As for 4,5',8-trimethylpsoralen, it needed much lower concentrations and much less 365 nm light fluence to yield high percentages of crosslinked DNA.

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The advantage of using DNA content as a biochemical parameter because the results it gives are directly related to cellularity is discussed. As examples, comparisons of acid phosphatase and cathepsin D activities in rat liver and hepatoma and of acid phosphatase in human normal breast tissue and adenocarcinoma are considered. Contradictory results are obtained, depending whether they are related to DNA content, fresh tissue weight, or protein content.

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An alkaline sodium iodide density gradient technique is described, for use in sedimentation rate centrifugation studies of in vivo induction of single strand breaks in DNA. The combination of this type of gradient with a sensitive fluorometric DNA estimation makes it possible to analyze very small amounts of DNA without any need for labeling the nucleic acid with radioactive thymidine.

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The net total uptake of several amino acids at low (0.8-3.1 mumoles/liter) as well as high (800-1200 mumoles/liter) extracellular concentrations, by normal rat liver, a premalignant liver, a solid hepatoma, and the Zajdela ascitic hepatoma cells, has been compared under conditions in which protein synthesis continues.

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Zajdela ascitic hepatoma cells are shown to take up pyrimidine bases at much lower rates than obtained in slices from normal rat liver. The rates of uptake of adenine and uridine by the Zajdela cells are, however, as high as in the slices. Like the slices, again, the Zajdela cells take up E.

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