ETHIONINE INDUCED SRNA NEOMETHYLASE ACTIVITY

Recent studies in this laboratory have been directed towards the methylation of sRNA using adult, embryonic, and neoplastic mouse liver cell preparations (Hancock, 1966; Hancock, 1967a; Hancock, 1967b; Hancock, et al., 1967). After characterizing the sRNA ethylase activity of mouse liver (manuscript submitted) investigations were initiated to detect any changes in sRNA ethylase activity of ethionine treated mice. Although the sRNA ethylase activities thus far are not remarkable, it was discovered during experiments analyzing rates of methylation that sRNA methylase activity had definitely increased in livers from ethionine treated mice. This paper will present evidence that new cytidylate, adenylate, and uridylate sRNA methylase activities arise in the liver cells of ethionine treated mice. Only data concerned with mice fed ethionine for six months will be presented here and a full report including three month data will appear elsewhere after the analysis of mice fed for nine months with an ethionine diet and completion of sRNA ethylase experiments. © 1968.