The mechanisms of inhibitory effects of liver extract on lymphocyte proliferation: II. Inhibition of DNA, RNA, and protein synthesis and their relationship to the effects of metabolic inhibitors.

The inhibitory effects of liver extract (LEx) on DNA, RNA, and protein synthesis in phytohaemagglutinin (PHA)-stimulated lymphocytes were studied by measuring the incorporation of labelled precursors. DNA, RNA, and protein synthesis were all inhibited by LEx in a dose-related manner. The inhibitory effect of LEx on protein synthesis was additive to the inhibitory effect of puromycin. The inhibitory effect of LEx on DNA synthesis was antagonistic to the inhibitory effect of mitomycin C. In the case of actinomycin D for RNA synthesis, its interactions with LEx were variable, but not additive. LEx may act as an inhibitor of protein synthesis through the mechanism of arginine-depletion.