In vitro effect of alpha, beta-unsaturated sulphones of the 5-nitrofuran series on the incorporation of C-labelled precursors into Ehrlich's ascites carcinoma cells.

The effect of new 5-nitrofuran (5NF) derivatives on the incorporation of 14C precursors of nucleic acids and protein synthesis into Ehrlich's ascites carcinoma (EAC) cells in vitro has been studied. Of the 32 substances that were tested, 22 markedly inhibited the incorporation of adenine, L-valine, uridine and thymidine. The 5NF derivatives influenced the synthesis of nucleic acids in vitro and the proliferation of EAC cells. The effect of the derivatives depends on the nature and position of the substituents as well as on the spatial arrangement of the whole molecule. Some of the evaluated derivatives showed a weak virostatic effect and induced lysogenicity in E. coli C 600. As most of the tested 5NF inhibited E. coli(rec-) mutants, it can be concluded that the (rec-) gene evidently takes part in the repair of their damage.