A novel hepatic nucleotide is correlated with the carbohydrate induction of messenger ribonucleic acid-S14.

To determine whether the rapid response of hepatic mRNA-S14 to carbohydrate feeding was associated with an alteration in a specific hepatic nucleotide, acid extracts of liver tissue were analyzed by ion-paired reverse phase HPLC. A nucleotide present in nanomoles per g quantity correlated with the induction of this mRNA by sucrose. Four hours after sucrose feeding the content of this compound was 7 times greater than that in fasted rats. Furthermore, the response was rapid, attaining maximal levels 30 min after feeding, and remaining elevated for at least 4 h. The content of this nucleotide also correlated with the content of mRNA-S14 in the steady state, with the lowest levels of both mRNA-S14 and this nucleotide in fasted rats, intermediate levels in rats maintained on a regular chow diet, and the highest levels in rats fed a 60% sucrose diet for 4 days. Lastly, while the response of mRNA-S14 to thyroid hormone and sucrose is synergistic, the thyroidal state does not influence the response of this compound to sucrose. Thus, the interaction of thyroid hormone and sucrose on mRNA-S14 is distal to the generation of this compound. Based on the UV spectrum, HPLC retention, and [3H]adenosine labeling, this compound contains adenine. However, it is not any of the common adenine-containing mono- or oligonucleotides. These data indicate that a novel hepatic nucleotide is induced by sucrose and raise the possibility that this nucleotide is responsible for the induction of carbohydrate-responsive mRNAs.