Regulatory effects of purine and pyrimidine nucleoside 5'-di(Tri)- phosphate-3'-diphosphates on eucaryote protein synthesis

Adenosine-, guanosine-, cytidine- and uridine-5'-di(tri)-phosphate-3'-diphosphates were enzymatically prepared by the use of Streptomyces adephospholyticus ATP nucleotide pyrophospho- kinase (E.C. 2.7.6.4). Their regulatory effects were then investigated on translation of rat liver, rabbit globin and silkworm pupae chorion mRNAs by the wheat germ lysate system in vitro. They were found to exert base-specific and mRNA species-specific stimulatory or inhibitory effects, respectively. In particular, cytidine 5'-diphosphate-3'-diphosphate stimulated chorion mRNA translation 3-fold. The significance and limitations of the findings were discussed in relation to natural occurrence and possible regulatory functions of the nucleotides in eucaryotes.