Effect of nucleosides on the synthesis of nucleic acids and proteins in Ehrlich ascites carcinoma cells.

The synthesis of nucleic acids and proteins in whole cells of Ehrlich ascites carcinoma was inhibited by adenosine and by several natural-adenosine-related compounds. The inhibitory effect of adenosine was more pronounced than that of other nucleosides tested (guanosine, inosine, cytidine, uridine and thymidine). The synthetic processes examined were only moderately inhibited by adenine nucleotides (ATP, ADP, AMP, NAD, cyclic 3',5'-AMP and its dibutyryl derivative). Respiration and aerobic glycolysis were not affected significantly by the nucleoside tested.