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Selective Effect of the Metallocarcinogen Beryllium on Hormonal Regulation of Gene Expression in Cultured Cells¹

University of Tennessee-Oak Ridge Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences [S. T. P.] and the Biology Division [S. B. K., K-L. L., and F. T. K.], Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, Tennessee 37830

Effects of the metallocarcinogen beryllium on regulation of gene expression were assessed by analysis of hormonal regulation of synthesis of tyrosine aminotransferase in berylliumtreated hepatoma cell cultures. Cell growth was not affected by exposure of the cells to 1 µM BeSO₄ throughout their 4- to 5-day growth cycle. In cells pretreated in this way, the induction by glucocorticoids was specifically impaired, the extent of induced enzyme synthesis being reduced about 50%. Inductions by insulin or cyclic adenosine 3':5'-monophosphate were not influenced by the metal. The results suggest that low concentrations of beryllium selectively interfere with regulatory mechanisms controlling transcriptional events in gene expression.

¹ Research sponsored by the Office of Health and Environmental Research, United States Department of Energy, under Contract W-7405-eng-26 with the Union Carbide Corporation.

² Predoctoral Investigator sponsored by NIH Training Grant CA-09104. To whom requests for reprints should be addressed.

³ Fellow of the International Atomic Energy Agency. Present address: Biochemistry Division, Bhabha Atomic Research Center, Bombay 400 084, India.

Received 10/14/80. Accepted 10/19/81.

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