Inhibition of DNA synthesis in mouse lymphosarcoma LS/BL cells by fluorocitrate.

Fluorocitrate is a specific inhibitor of aconitase activity (EC 4.2.1.3). It causes an inhibition of citric acid cycle reactions and consequently reduces the oxygen consumption, as well as the total volume of oxidative phosphorylations. Experiments using 3H-thymidine incorporation into mouse lymphosarcoma LS/BL cells proved that the in vitro blocking of citric acid cycle by fluorocitrate (3.6 and 7.2 mM) was accompanied by a decrease in DNA synthesis by 40 to 60 percent, as compared to control cells. A similar inhibitory effect upon DNA synthesis was also found in cells cultured in the abdominal cavity of host mice injected intraperitoneally with 5 mg./kg. of sodium fluoroacetate. Following the injection, fluorocitrate is formed in vivo by way of Peters' lethal synthesis.