Cyclic AMP-mediated induction of ornithine decarboxylase of glioma and neuroblastoma cells.

The activity of ornithine decarboxylase (EC 4.1.1.17; L-ornithine carboxy-lyase) of C6-BU-1 glioma and N115 neuroblastoma cells increases significantly when confluent cultures are treated with compounds that increase cellular cAMP levels. These include norepinephrine or isoproterenol, and prostaglandin E1 or adenosine, which stimulate ornithine decarboxylase activity in C6-BU-1 glioma and N115 neuroblastoma cells, respectively. Ornithine decarboxylase activity is also elevated in confluent C6-BU-1 glioma cells treated with dibutyrylcAMP and theophylline, or after the glioma cells are fed with a serum-depleted medium in the presence of catecholamines and inhibitors of cyclic nucleotide phosphodiesterase. The activity of the enzyme increases 500- to 1000-fold, 2-6 hr after stationary-phase N115 neuroblastoma cells are fed with a serum-free medium, supplemented with phosphodiesterase inhibitors, adenosine, or prostaglandin E1. This stimulation is antagonized by carbamoyl choline and is blocked by actinomycin D or cycloheximide. These results suggest that the synthesis of ornithine decarboxylase of C6-BU-1 glioma and N115 neuroblastoma cells is controlled by cAMP.