Alteration of activity of nuclear envelope nucleoside triphosphatase in quail oviduct and liver in dependence on physiological factors.

The concentrations of the specific proteins ovalbumin and avidin in quail oviduct increase during estrogen and progesterone treatment of immature animals. After 6 days' treatment, values are found which are almost as high as those determined in mature oviduct. During ageing, the concentrations of these proteins decrease by 90%. The alterations in protein content are correlated with the activity of the nuclear envelope nucleoside triphosphatase, an enzyme which is assumed to be involved in the nucleocytoplasmic transport of mRNA. During the process of cell proliferation and differentiation, the activity of this enzyme increases from 0.29 to 2.2 mumol Pi/h X 10(8) nuclear ghosts. It was seen that the liver enzyme was not influenced by hormone treatment and ageing.