Serum-induced stimulation of snRNA synthesis in mouse 3T3 fibroblasts

Small nuclear RNAs (snRNAs) from quiescent and serum-stimulated 3T3 cultures, labeled with [3H]uridine [( 3H]U), were electrophoresed in polyacrylamide-urea slab gels and revealed by staining with ethidium bromide and by fluorography. Judged by labeling with [3H]U, synthesis of 7S and U1-U6 RNAs was very low or absent in quiescent cultures. The serum-induced transition of 3T3 cells from a resting to a growing state was accompanied by an early, apparently sequential stimulation of snRNA synthesis; stimulated synthesis of 7S, U1, U2, U3, U4 and U6 RNAs coincided in time with serum-induced stimulation of 45S pre-ribosomal RNA (pre-rRNA) and heterogeneous nuclear RNA (hnRNA) synthesis.     

Glutathione plays different roles in the induction of the cytotoxic effects of inorganic and organic arsenic compounds in cultured BALB/c 3T3 cells

The cytotoxicity of arsenic compounds towards BALB/c 3T3 cells in culture was investigated, together with the role of glutathione (GSH) in the induction of the cytotoxic effects. The rank order of cytotoxicity was as follows: arsenite (As³⁺)>arsenate (As⁵⁺)>dimethylarsinic acid (DMAA)>methylarsonic acid (MAA)>trimethylarsine oxide (TMAO). Arsenobetaine, arsenocholine and the tetramethylarsonium ion were less toxic. Depletion of GSH enhanced the cytotoxic effects of As³⁺, As⁵⁺, MAA and TMAO, while the cytotoxicity of DMAA was markedly reduced by depletion of GSH. These results suggest that GSH plays a role in protecting the cells against the toxic effects of As³⁺, As⁵⁺, MAA and TMAO while it is involved in the induction of the cytotoxic effects of DMAA.