DNA Polymerases of Newborn Rat Brain and Liver

Abstract

DNA polymerase activity was found to be present in appreciable quantities in the extracts of whole tissue (TS) as well as of nuclei (NS) isolated from newborn rat brain and liver. The NS fractions of either of the two tissues exhibited a higher specific activity per unit protein than the corresponding TS fractions. The optimum pH requirements as well as the ability to support DNA synthesis over a long period indicate that the NS fractions were also comparatively less contaminated by interfering substances than the TS fractions.The reaction requirements for the incorporation of TMP residues into DNA by the NS fractions of newborn rat brain and liver and the effect of various inhibitors and hydrolytic enzymes on this reaction were also investigated. These extracts resembled preparations from other mammalian tissues in that they exhibited absolute requirements for the primer DNA, the four complimentary deoxynucleoside triphosphates, and Mg2+ ions. When three of the four deoxynucleoside triphosphates were omitted and only TTP-2-14C was added to the reaction mixture, a limited incorporation of TMP-2-14C into DNA occurred. Other investigations such as the effect of actinomycin and of sulfhydryl compounds revealed that a large part of incorporation by the TS and NS fractions of newborn brain and liver was due to the replicative DNA nucleotidyltransferase enzyme.