Effect of tryptophan on polyriboadenylic acid and polyadenylic acid-messenger ribonucleic acid in rat liver.

Abstract

The administration of tryptophan to fasted rats 1 hour before killing resulted in marked increases in the amounts of hepatic polyriboadenylic acid (poly(A)) and poly(a)-containing-mRNA in the cytoplasm and a shift in hepatic polyribosomes toward heavier aggregates. When animals were treated with cordycepin, or actinomycin D, to both, there was disaggregation of hepatic polyribosomes and inhibition of poly(A) synthesis. Administration of tryptophan to fasted animals pretreated with cordycepin, or actinomycin D, or both induced a shift in hepatic polyribosomes toward heavier aggregates and an increase in in vitro protein synthesis. Fasted rats that received [U-14C] adenosine to prelabel hepatic poly (A) and then were treated with cordycepin, or actinomycin D, or both before tubefeeding tryptophan revealed increased hepatic levels of labeled polyribosomal poly (A) in comparison with controls. Fasted rats that received 14C-orotic acid to prelabel poly (A)-mRNA and then were treated with actinomycin D after 1 hour and with tryptophan along with cycloheximide after 1 1/2 hours revealed marked increases in labeling of hepatic poly (A)-mRNA associated with polyribosomes in comparison with controls. These findings suggest that tryptophan may act to stimulate the transport of poly (A)-containing-mRNA into the cytoplasm of the liver.