[Nucleic acid and protein synthesis of splenic lymphocytes of the rat under the influence of mucopolysaccharide-polysulfuric acid-esters (author's transl)].

The influence of three mucopolysaccharide-polysulfuric acid-esters (MPS) of different molecular weight on DNAase II-activity as well as on nucleic acid and protein synthesis of lymphocytes of rat spleen has been investigated in vitro. The results are summarized as follows: 1. DNAase II-activity (bovine spleen) was inhibited by MPS in a competitive manner. 2. At concentrations of greater than or equal to 10 microgram/ml MPS decreased the incorporation of 3H-thymidine and 14C-uridine into the nucleic acids of the cell suspension. 3. Incorporation of 3H-amino-acids into the lymphocytes protein was enhanced when MPS were added at concentrations of > 1 and > 10 microgram/ml, resp. At lower concentrations of the polyanions, a slight inhibition of protein synthesis was shown. 4. In the presence of MPS, incorporation of the radioactively labelled presursors into the acid-soluble fraction of the cells was enhanced. 5. The MPS-effects described increased with the molecular weight of the polyanions. It is suggested that polyanions like MPS may interfere rather non-specifically with cell membranes and with nucleic acid-polymerases.