The Use of 6-MP to Investigate the Control of Glucose-6-Phosphate Dehydrogenase Levels in Cultured Artichoke Tissue

Abstract

6-Methylpurine (6-MP) prevents the increase in glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PDH) activity which precedes the early period of synchronous division in Jerusalem artichoke explants, even when added less than 1 h before the increase occurs in non-inhibited cultures. A study of amino-acid and uridine incorporation shows that 6-MP specifically inhibits nucleoside incorporation over short-term periods but that longer exposure causes inhibition of aminoacid incorporation as well. The implication of this observation on the use of 6-MP and other supposed specific RNA inhibitors is discussed. Possible points of control of G6PDH synthesis are considered.