Inhibition of DNA synthesis in BHK fibroblasts treated in vitro with potassium dichromate.

Treatment of hamster fibroblasts with potassium dichromate in vitro stimulates tritiated thymidine uptake into the intracellular nucleotide pool. This effect is due to the oxidizing action of hexavalent chromium on the plasma membrane. Dichromate, induces also an inhibition of DNA replication, which is due to the interaction of reduced trivalent chromium with specific biological ligands on the DNA molecule.