Phenobarbital enhances 2',5'-oligoadenylate synthesis in rat liver nuclei.

Treatment of rats with phenobarbital for three days greatly increases the activity of 2,5 oligoadenylate synthetase in liver nuclei. Analysis of 2',5'-oligoadenylates synthesized in vitro showed that nuclei from both phenobarbital-treated and control rats synthesized 2',5'-oligoadenylates ranging from di- to hexamers. However, nuclei from drug treated rats showed a two fold increase in trimer and tetramer synthesis and a three-four fold increase in longer chained oligoadenylates. There was no change in the nuclear 2'-phosphodiesterase activity as the result of phenobarbital treatment, This activity remained low in nuclei from either the treated or the control rats. To our knowledge, this is the first report on phenobarbital affecting the liver 2',5'-oligoadenylate system.