Induction of ornithine decarboxylase in cultured mouse L cells. II. Effects of additions of amino acids and serum.

Induction of ornithine decarboxylase [EC 4.1.1.17] (ODC) in mouse L cells by components of the culture medium was investigated. It was found that further addition of amino acid mixture, but not of calf serum, to confluent cells of 5 day culture induced ODC and that this induction was accelerated by actinactinomycin D. In salt solution, addition of either amino acids or serum alone did not cause full induction, but addition of both together did. This induction, in contrast, was inhibited by actinomycin D. Induction by insulin, but not by cyclic AMP, was enhanced by a higher concentration of amino acids. These results can be explained by supposing that in non-growing cells there is stable RNA which is involved in ODC induction, possibly mRNA of ODC, and that the observed induction is caused by inhibition of enzyme degradation and accelerated translation, while in growing cells this RNA is unstable and ODC induction is controlled at the level of transcription.