3H-leucine incorporation into subcellular fractions of human brain tumors.

In vitro incorporation of 3H-leucine into proteins of subcellular fractions of brain tumors has been investigated. Protein-bound radioactivity of nuclei and soluble fraction significantly increased compared to values of the normal brain. Moreover, the study demonstrated that microsomes, the most active fraction in protein synthesis in the normal tissue, always showed lower values than neoplastic nuclei. The pattern of 3H-leucine subcellular uptake obtained in brain tumors might suggest some similarities to that seen in the early phases of brain maturation.