This Article Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Burke, W. T. Articles by Miller, L. L. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Burke, W. T. Articles by Miller, L. L.

Biochemical Changes during Carcinogenesis

IV. Protein Synthesis and Urea Production in Perfused Livers of Rats Fed 2-Acetylaminofluorene^*

William T. Burke and Leon L. Miller

( Department of Radiation Biology, University of Rochester, School of Medicine and Dentistry, Rochester, New York)

The isolated perfused livers of rats fed the hepatic carcinogen AAF have a decreased ability to synthesize urea and to produce carbon dioxide from added C¹⁴-labeled amino acid substrate in the presence of levels of amino acids in the liver equal to or greater than those present in normal livers. Protein synthesis in these livers, as measured by histidine-2-C¹⁴ incorporation into liver and plasma proteins, has been shown to be considerably in excess of that in normal livers.

These findings are qualitatively and quantitatively similar to those noted with livers from rats fed 3'-methyl-4-dimethylaminoazobenzene. The data indicate that the biochemical defect in amino acid catabolism, which we have postulated developed in the precancerous livers of azo dye-fed rats, has a more general occurrence during carcinogenesis and, further, that such a defect may be intimately related to the process of liver tumor formation induced by chemical carcinogens.

^* These studies were performed under contract with the United States Atomic Energy Commission at the University of Rochester Atomic Energy Project, Rochester, New York, and were aided in part by a research grant from the Medical Research and Development Board, Office of the Surgeon General, Department of the Army, under Contract No. DA-49-007-MD-451, and by a grant from the Jane Coffin Childs Memorial Fund for Medical Research.

Present address: Department of Biochemistry, Seton Hall College of Medicine and Dentistry, Jersey City, New Jersey.

Received 12/23/59.