The relationship between the synthesis of protein and the synthesis of ribonucleic acid in the connective-tissue cell

Abstract

Radio-autographic methods were used to study the effect of B-2-thienylalanine and 8-azaguanine on the synthesis of protein and ribonucleic acid in the nucleus and cytoplasm of the rat connective-tissue cell. With /3-2-thienylalanine it was possible to reduce the rate of ribonucleic acid syntheis in the cytoplasm to about 10% of the normal value, and in the nucleus to about 50% of the normal value, without affecting either nuclear or cytoplasmic protein synthesis. With both [beta]-2 thienylalanine and 8-azaguanine, cytoplasmic ribonucleic acid synthesis was much more rapidly suppressed than nuclear ribonucleic acid synthesis. The results indicate that there is no mandatory coupling between the synthesis of ribonucleic acid and the synthesis of protein, as measured by the overall rates of the 2 processes, either in the nucleus or in the cytoplasm.