Effect of protein diet on age-dependent methylation of liver nuclear components of mice administered N-nitrosodimethylamine.

Protein diets deficient or enriched in DL-methionine were studied for the effect of methylation of nuclear components in subadult and adult outbred albino male mice given N-nitrosodimethylamine. After the mice were fed diets for 6 days, they were given ip injections of [14C]N-nitrosodimethylamine (5 mg/kg body wt) and killed 45 minutes later. Liver nuclei were isolated; incorporation of 14C into nuclear proteins and methylation of DNA and RNA were determined. In the subadult and adult animals the nuclear protein content was diminished by shortage of a single essential amino acid. Incorporation of 14C into the total protein was reduced. The reduction amounted to 55% in the subadult and 23% in the adult animals. Neither an age-dependent nor a diet-dependent change in the specific methylation of DNA and RNA was observed. Analysis of methylation of DNA and RNA was observed. Analysis of methylated purine bases showed an age-related rise in O6-methylguanine in the adult as compared with the subadult mice.