Transient elevation of ribonucleotide reductase activity, M2 mRNA and M2 protein in BALB/c 3T3 fibroblasts in the presence of 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate.

A rapid elevation of ribonucleotide reductase activity was observed with BALB/c 3T3 fibroblasts within 1/2 to 1 hour treatment with 0.1 microM 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA). This increase in activity was transient, and returned to about normal levels within 24 to 48 hours. Northern analysis of the two components of ribonucleotide reductase showed a slight transient elevation of M1 mRNA and a marked transient elevation of M2 mRNA after 1/2 hour TPA treatment. As a positive control, ornithine decarboxylase message levels were also observed to be transiently elevated following identical treatment with TPA. Western blot analysis with M1 and M2 specific monoclonal antibodies indicated that the increase in ribonucleotide reductase activity was primarily due to the transient elevation of the M2 but not the M1 protein during treatment with 0.1 microM TPA. This first demonstration that the tumor promotor, TPA, can cause rapid and transient alterations in ribonucleotide reductase suggests that the enzyme, particularly the M2 component, may play an important role in the critical events involved in the process of tumor promotion.