COMPARATIVE BIOCHEMICAL STUDIES ON NORMAL AND ON POLIOMYELITIS INFECTED TISSUE CULTURES: II. INVESTIGATION OF VARIOUS ENZYME SYSTEMS IN HOMOGENATES OF KIDNEY TISSUE CULTURES OF NORMAL RHESUS MONKEYS

Abstract

Pools of normal tissue cultures were examined for enzymes associated with nucleic acid metabolism. Ribonucleases and desoxyribonucleases, 5-nucleotidases, simple nucleotidases, acid and alkaline phosphatases were studied, and certain others were occasionally demonstrated. Characteristic behavior of these enzyme systems during cultivation, growth, and degeneration is described. Quantitative data indicated the presence of significant amounts of enzymes in the supernatant fluid accounting for the considerable loss in these specialized constituents during fluid changes. Bearing of these findings on the physiology and pathology of cultivated cells is discussed, with special emphasis on poliomyelitis infection. The use of enzyme assays, as functional tests supplementing morphological methods in tissue cultivation, is recommended.