The metabolism of isolated rat-liver nuclei

Abstract

A method for the isolation of rat-liver nuclei in 0.25 M-sucrose has been described, and the nucleic acid and phospholipid content have been determined. The nuclei incorporate P32, [8-C14] adenine, [6-C14] orotic acid and [2-C14] glycine into their nucleic acids or protein in vitro. Anoxia, 2.4-dinitrophenol, azide and chlorpromazine inhibit the incorporation into the protein and nucleic acid. The adenosine-triphosphatase activity of the nuclear preparations has been measured, and the effects of inhibitors have been studied. The presence of cytochrome oxidase, reduced diphosphopyridine nucleo-tide-cytochrome c reductase and reduced diphosphopyridine nucleotide-neotetrazolium reductase have been demonstrated in the nuclear preparations. A possible scheme for the production of adenosine triphosphate in the nucleus is discussed.