Exp Cell Res 1983 Sep 01;1472:461-5.

Effect of 5'-methylthioadenosine on RNA and DNA synthesis in cultured Xenopus laevis cells.

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We have examined the effect of 5'-methylthioadenosine (MTA) on RNA metabolism and DNA synthesis in a cultured Xenopus laevis epithelial cell line. Cells incubated in the presence of MTA were transcriptionally less active than controls as measured by the run-off transcription technique. Experiments which measured the percentage of newly-synthesized poly(A)+ RNA and alpha-amanitin-sensitive nuclear transcripts suggested that MTA inhibited transcription by both RNA polymerases I and II. DNA synthesis was observed to proceed normally at times when MTA inhibited RNA synthesis. These results suggest that the well-known anti-proliferative effect of MTA is due indirectly to its initial effects on the transcription of ribosomal RNA (rRNA) and messenger RNA (mRNA) rather than a direct suppression of DNA replication.

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