Drug-induced suppression of phospholipid synthesis in HeLa cells by inhibition of choline uptake.

2-(4-Anisidino)-4,6-bis (2-(diethylmethylammonium)ethylamino)-1,3,5-triazine diiodide was found to inhibit specifically the incorporation of [14 C]-choline into cold 5 percent trichloroacetic acid-insoluble materials in HeLa cells without affecting other vital areas of cellular metabolism. Further studies indicated that this drug did not affect any of the intracellular reactions leading to phosphatidylcholine formation; instead, the inhibition of lecithin synthesis was due primarily to the suppression of choline transport through the cytoplasmic membrane. The level of inhibition of the latter process was comparable to that observed for the inhibition of choline incorporation into cold 5 percent trichloroacetic acid-insoluble precipitates in whole cells.