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Rapid and Reversible Inhibition of Junctional Communication by Tumor Promoters in a Mouse Cell Line¹

School of Biological Sciences, Flinders University, Bedford Park, South Australia 5042 [D. J. F., A. W. M.], and CSIRO Division of Human Nutrition, Kintore Ave., Adelaide, South Australia 5000 [S. E. K., F. J. B.]

HEL-37 cells rapidly transferred microinjected fluorescein between contacting cells. This transfer was strongly inhibited by tumor-promoting phorbol esters and mezerein but not by nonpromoting derivatives. The onset of the inhibition occurred after 5 to 10 min of exposure to the test compound and was complete within 20 min. Using a wash-of procedure, it was demonstrated that inhibition of dye transfer by phorbol-12,13-dibutyrate was fully reversed by 100 min, after a lag of 40 to 60 min. The recovery of dye transfer competence was blocked by puromycin. Both 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate and monensin caused elevated Na⁺ levels in HEL-37 cells, but the latter compound did not inhibit dye transfer. It was concluded that the promoter inhibition of transfer was not a consequence of Na⁺-induced increase in cytoplasmic Ca²⁺ concentration.

¹ This study was supported by the Australian Research Grants Committee, the National Health and Medical Research Council, and the Universities of South Australia Anti-Cancer Foundation.

² To whom requests for reprints should be addressed.

Received 11/ 8/82. Accepted 5/ 5/83.

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