Abstract
ETHIDIUM bromide (3,8-diamino-5-ethyl-6-phenylphenanthridinium bromide) has been shown to inhibit completely the incorporation of preformed purines (adenine, guanine and hypoxanthine) into nucleic acids in Ehrlich ascites tumour cells in vitro, but does not appreciably impair the incorporation into nucleic acids of purines synthesized de novo1. This specific effect on preformed purine metabolism is not due to inhibition of their entry into these cells, conversion to nucleotides, or phosphorylation to nucleoside di- and tri-phosphates. Thus the purine nucleotides derived from exogenously supplied preformed purines are differentiated from those synthesized via the de novo pathway of purine nucleotide biosynthesis by this action of ethidium bromide. This suggests that these two types of purine nucleotides—chemically identical but derived from different sources—are separated within the cell. The nucleotides synthesized from exogenously supplied purines must mix with those made de novo at some point prior to their polymerization into nucleic acids, and it has been suggested that ethidium bromide interferes with this mixing process, which may be considered to be a movement of nucleotides from one compartment into another1.
This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution
Access options
Subscribe to this journal
Receive 51 print issues and online access
$199.00 per year
only $3.90 per issue
Buy this article
- Purchase on Springer Link
- Instant access to full article PDF
Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Kandaswamy, T. S., and Henderson, J. F., Biochim. Biophys. Acta, 61, 86 (1962).
Newton, B. A., J. Gen. Microbiol., 17, 718 (1957).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
KANDASWAMY, T., HENDERSON, J. Alteration of the Biochemical Effects of Ethidium Bromide by Exposure of Cells to Hypotonic Media. Nature 199, 807–808 (1963). https://doi.org/10.1038/199807a0
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/199807a0
Comments
By submitting a comment you agree to abide by our Terms and Community Guidelines. If you find something abusive or that does not comply with our terms or guidelines please flag it as inappropriate.