Biochemical analysis of the effects of 1,3-bis(2-chloroethyl)-1-nitrosourea on the growth of a human melanoma cell line.

A study of the biochemical effects of 1,3-bis(2-chloroethyl)-1-nitrosourea (BCNU) on the growth of human melanoma cells (TWI) revealed that this antitumor agent inhibits: (i) the synthesis of ribosomal RNA, (ii) the synthesis of cellular proteins of molecular weight greater than 49 kDa and (iii) the synthesis and release of extracellular proteins to the growth medium. [3H]Uridine labelling of RNA species coupled with agarose gel electrophoresis analysis and fluorography gave a nicely resolved picture of the sequence of events in control and treated cells. Protein analyses were done using polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis.