Work

Human lung tumor sensitivity to difluoromethylornithine as related to ornithine decarboxylase messenger RNA levels

Year: 1986

Type: article

Abstract: The differential response to polyamine depletion has been studied in two types of human lung tumor cells. Small cell lung carcinoma cells die following polyamine depletion by difluoromethylornithine treatment while non-small cell lines demonstrate a typical cytostatic response. We now report that a small cell line, NCI H82, has a lower apparent capacity for polyamine biosynthesis than does a representative non-small cell, NCI H157. In subconfluent cultures, the ornithine decarboxylase activity is 25 times lower in the small cell than the non-small cell and by comparison, the polyamines in the small cell line are markedly reduced. Most significantly, levels of mRNA coding for ornithine decarboxylase are approximately 100-fold lower in the small cell than the non-small cell line, and this difference does not appear to be a result of gene rearrangement. These results suggest that differential sensitivity to polyamine depletion is related to different steady-state levels of ornithine decarboxylase mRNA.

Source: Biochemical and Biophysical Research Communications

DOI: 10.1016/s0006-291x(86)80458-2

Authors: Robert A. Casero, Stephen B. Baylin, Barry D. Nelkin, Gordon D. Luk

Institutions: Johns Hopkins University, Johns Hopkins Medicine, Johns Hopkins Hospital

Language: English

Topic: Polyamine Metabolism and Applications

Subfield: Molecular Biology

Field: Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology

Domain: Life Sciences

SDG: Good health and well-being

Open Access status: hybrid

Estimated APC paid: $3,110