Growth stimulation of sparse, serum deprived and of confluent, contact inhibited mammalian fibroblasts by a preparation of 3':5'-cyclic AMP phosphodiesterase.

Resting mammalian fibroblasts, either sparse and maintained in a serum-free medium, or confluent and contact inhibited, are stimulated to divide by treatment with a preparation of 3':5'-cyclic AMP phosphodiesterase. This enzyme preparation contained a low level of trypsin-like and alpha-chymotrypsin-like activity, but its effect on cell growth could not be mimicked by pure, crystallized trypsin and alpha-chymotrypsin at concentration equivalent to their contamination in the above preparation. Preincubation of the 3':5'-cyclic AMP phosphodiesterase preparation with the protease inhibitor, phenyl methane sulfonyl fulride, did not affect, either, its stimulation of DNA synthesis in fibroblasts, or its enzymatic hydrolysis of cyclic AMP.