Effect of theophylline on the transport of tyrosine in cultured B-16 mouse melanoma cells.

The effect of theophylline, an inhibitor of phosphodiesterase, on tyrosine (Tyr) transport across cell membrane was studied using cultured B-16 mouse melanoma cells. 1.5 mM Theophylline in culture medium increased Tyr uptake velocity in linear fashion up to 36 h, after which it reached a plateau at which the cells showed about a 60% increase in Tyr transport velocity. This increase was independent of extracellular Na, essentially unaffected by cell density, and partially inhibited by concomitantly added cycloheximide. These results suggested that biosynthesis of macromolecules, probably acting as System L transporter, was induced by theophylline treatment.