Effect of sodium n-butyrate on induction of prostaglandin synthase activity in cloned mastocytoma P-815 2-E-6 cells.

Treatment of a cloned mastocytoma P-815 cell line (2-E-6) with 1 mM-sodium n-butyrate for 40h induced prostaglandin synthase activity and arrested cell growth. The induction of enzyme activity by n-butyrate was not associated with suppression of DNA synthesis, since hydroxyurea had no effect on prostaglandin synthase induction. The effect of sodium n-butyrate was reversible. Experiments with cycloheximide and actinomycin D showed that the induction of prostaglandin synthase activity involved synthesis de novo of protein and RNA. The time of half-maximal induction of the newly synthesized RNA for prostaglandin synthase activity was estimated as about 15h, which is similar to the generation time of the cells. Selective induction of fatty acid cyclo-oxygenase activity by sodium n-butyrate was suggested by the following two pieces of experimental evidence. (1) There was no significant difference between treated and untreated cells in the activities of radioactive prostaglandin H2 conversion into individual prostaglandins. (2) The incorporation of [3H]acetylsalicylic acid into the fraction equivalent to protein of mol.wt. approx. 75000 of sodium n-butyrate-treated cells was higher than that of untreated cells, on analysis of cell particulate fraction by sodium dodecyl sulphate/polyacrylamide-gel electrophoresis. A high concentration (5 mM) of sodium propionate also induced prostaglandin synthesis, but other short-chain fatty acids, such as isobutyrate and sodium acetate, had no effect.