Effect of fluororotic acid on the sialylation of the chicken liver, hepatoma MC-29 and serum glycoconjugates.

Fluororotic acid, an orotic acid analogue which interferes with the nucleotide and RNA biosynthesis, was tested to determine its effect on: a) 14C-glucosamine and 14C-N-acetylmannosamine incorporation into acid-soluble nucleotide-sugars and into b) glycoconjugates from chicken liver and hepatoma induced by the avian leukosis strain Mc-29. In vivo metabolism studies indicated that this agent alters the nucleotide biosynthesis in both tissues investigated and causes a decrease in the sialylation rate of liver, hepatoma and serum glycolipids and glycoproteins.