Nucleic acid methylase activity in hamsters bearing tumors induced by adenovirus-12

Abstract

Cell-free extracts of tumor cells induced by adenovirus-12 derived from Syrian hamsters possessed higher transfer RNA (tRNA) methylase activity than cell-free extracts from liver, lung, kidney, spleen, or skin and muscle. No difference was found between normal and tumor cell free extracts in the methylation of DNA or ribosomal RNA.The tRNA methylase activities in cell-free extracts from hamster embryos were in the range found for normal adult tissue extracts. It appears therefore that the increase in tRNA methylase is characteristic of the tumor cells, and is not a result of their rapid growth.