Thymidine metabolism in cells treated with DNA-suppressing factor (DSF).

Inhibition of thymidine incorporation into DNA in cells treated with DNA-suppressing factor (DSF) has been studied. After 16 hr treatment with DSF, transport of labeled thymidine across the cell membrane was not inhibited, since equilibrium of labeled thymidine with the acid-soluble pool occurred at the same rate and the radioactivity was at the same level as in untreated cells. The values of Vmax and Km in the kinetics of transport of exogenous thymidine were not changed by DSF. Phosphorylation of labeled thymidine to deoxythymidine triphosphate (dTTP) was not inhibited by DSF. After a chase of labeled thymidine, radioactivity of the acid-soluble fraction in DSF-treated cells decreased more rapidly but that of the acid-insoluble fraction remained at a lower level than in untreated cells. It was assumed that DSF might block the entry of dTTP into DNA.