Abstract
In a previous report demonstrating that activity of DNA polymerase parallels the rate of DNA synthesis in rat brain, we theorized that activity of this enzy,e might serve as an ad hoc index of proliferative cell growth in normal tissues. Since individual brain regions have different rates of cell division and different times when maximum rates are attained, regional patterns of DNA polymerase activity have been examined and the characteristics of the enzyme further delineated. The data demonstrate that the enzyme is replicative and not reparative, is stimulated by glycerol, is linear with concentration and time and has an almost absolute requirement for DNa primar. Activity is always higher in cerebellum where the rate of DNA syuthesis is rapid than it is in forebrain where cell division is slower. Activity in forebrain peaks between 10 and 12 days precisely when the rate of DNA synthesis is maximal in this region. By contrast in cerebellum there are two peaks of DNA synthesis at 7 and 13 days. DNA plymerase activity is also biphasic with peaks just preceeding each of the synthesis peaks. These data reinforce the concept that activity of this enzyme parallels the rate of cell division during proliferative cell growht. As such it should provide a unique background upon which to study the effects of stimuli which alter DNA synthesis.
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Brasel, J., Winick, M. The relation between DNA polymerase activity and DNA synthesis in specific regions of proliferating rat brain. Pediatr Res 5, 418–419 (1971). https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-197108000-00198
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-197108000-00198