About: Dactinomycin is a research topic. Over the lifetime, 629 publications have been published within this topic receiving 24450 citations. The topic is also known as: Cosmegen & ActD.
TL;DR: It was shown that viral polypeptides formed three sequentially synthesized, coordinately regulated groups designated alpha, beta, and gamma, and that inhibitors of DNA synthesis did not prevent the synthesis of alpha,beta, or gamma polypePTides, but did reduce the amounts of gamma polyPEptides made.
Abstract: Based on evidence that 50% of herpes simplex 1 DNA is transcribed in HEp-2 cells in the absence of protein synthesis we examined the order and rates of synthesis of viral polypeptides in infected cells after reversal of cycloheximide- or puromycin-mediated inhibition of protein synthesis. These experiments showed that viral polypeptides formed three sequentially synthesized, coordinately regulated groups designated alpha, beta, and gamma. Specifically: (i) The alpha group, containing one minor structural and several nonstructural polypeptides, was synthesized at highest rates from 3 to 4 h postinfection in untreated cells and at diminishing rates thereafter. The beta group, also containing minor structural and nonstructural polypeptides, was synthesized at highest rates from 5 to 7 h and at decreasing rates thereafter. The gamma group containing major structural polypeptides was synthesized at increasing rates until at least 12 h postinfection. (ii) The synthesis of alpha polypeptides did not require prior infected cell protein synthesis. In contrast, the synthesis of beta polypeptides required both prior alpha polypeptide synthesis as well as new RNA synthesis, since the addition of actinomycin D immediately after removal of cycloheximide precluded beta polypeptide synthesis. The function supplied by the alpha polypeptides was stable since interruption of protein synthesis after alpha polypeptide synthesis began and before beta polypeptides were made did not prevent the immediate synthesis of beta polypeptides once the drug was withdrawn. The requirement of gamma polypeptide synthesis for prior synthesis of beta polypeptides seemed to be similar to that of beta polypeptides for prior synthesis of the alpha group. (iii) The rates of synthesis of alpha polypeptides were highest immediately after removal of cycloheximide and declined thereafter concomitant with the initiation of beta polypeptide synthesis; this decline in alpha polypeptide synthesis was less rapid in the presence of actinomycin D which prevented the appearance of beta and gamma polypeptides. The decrease in rates of synthesis of beta polypeptides normally occurring after 7 h postinfection was also less rapid in the presence of actinomycin D than in its absence, whereas ongoing synthesis of gamma polypeptides at this time was rapidly reduced by actinomycin D. (iv) Inhibitors of DNA synthesis (cytosine arabinoside or hydroxyurea) did not prevent the synthesis of alpha, beta, or gamma polypeptides, but did reduce the amounts of gamma polypeptides made.
TL;DR: The mechanism of action of actinomycin binds to a premelted DNA conformation present within the transcriptional complex, interfering with the elongation of growing RNA chains.
Abstract: Recent advances in understanding how actinomycin binds to DNA have suggested its mechanism of action. Actinomycin binds to a premelted DNA conformation present within the transcriptional complex. This immobilizes the complex, interfering with the elongation of growing RNA chains. The model has a number of implications for understanding RNA synthesis.
TL;DR: The molecular mechanisms that promote the survival of MM cells are examined and a key role is identified for myeloid cell factor-1 (Mcl-1), an antiapoptotic member of the Bcl-2 family, which is likely to be the labile factor governing MM cell survival.
TL;DR: The data suggest that the synthesis of alpha polypeptides in wild-type virus infections is subject to a negative post-transcriptional control involving viral gene product(s) present in infected cell lysates constituting virus stocks.
Abstract: Six mutants isolated from herpes simplex virus type 1 were judged to be defective with respect to the virion-associated function acting to rapidly shut off host polypeptide synthesis in herpes simplex virus-infected cells. The mutants were capable of proper entry into the cells, but, unlike the parent wild-type virus, they failed to shut off host polypeptide syntehsis in the presence of actinomycin D. They were consequently designated as virion-associated host shutoff (vhs) mutants. In the presence of actinomycin D, three of the mutants, vhs1, -2, and -3, failed to shut off the host at both 34 and 39 degrees C, whereas vhs4, -5, and -6 exhibited a temperature-dependent vhs phenotype. Since the mutants were capable of growth at 34 degrees C, it appeared that the vhs function was not essential for virus replication in cultured cells. Temperature-shift experiments performed with the vhs4 mutant showed that an active vhs function was required throughout the shutoff process and that, once established, the translational shutoff could not be reversed. In the absence of actinomycin D, the mutants induced a generalized, secondary shutoff of host translation, which required the synthesis of beta (early) or gamma (late) viral polypeptide(s). The vhs mutants appeared to be defective also with respect to post-transcriptional shutoff of alpha (immediate early) viral gene expression, since (i) cells infected with mutant viruses overproduced alpha viral polypeptides, (ii) there was an increased functional stability of alpha mRNA in the vhs1 mutant virus-infected cells, and (iii) superinfection of vhs1-infected cells with wild-type virus, in the presence of actinomycin D, resulted in a more pronounced shutoff of alpha polypeptide synthesis from preformed alpha mRNA than equivalent superinfection with vhs1 virus. The data suggest that the synthesis of alpha polypeptides in wild-type virus infections is subject to a negative post-transcriptional control involving viral gene product(s) present in infected cell lysates constituting virus stocks. The vhs1 mutant and possibly other vhs mutants contain a mutation in the gene encoding this function.
TL;DR: In murine fibroblasts exposure to alpha-amanitin triggered degradation of the RPB1 subunit, while other RNAPII subunits, RPB5 and RPB8, remained almost unaffected, in contrast to other inhibitors, such as actinomycin D or 5,6-dichloro-1-beta-D-ribofuranosyl-benzimidazole.
Abstract: Alpha-Amanitin is a well-known specific inhibitor of RNA polymerase II (RNAPII) in vitro and in vivo. It is a cyclic octapeptide which binds with high affinity to the largest subunit of RNAPII, RPB1. We have found that in murine fibroblasts exposure to alpha-amanitin triggered degradation of the RPB1 subunit, while other RNAPII subunits, RPB5 and RPB8, remained almost unaffected. Transcriptional inhibition in alpha-amanitin-treated cells was slow and closely followed the disappearance of RPB1. The degradation rate of RPB1 was alpha-amanitin dose dependent and was not a consequence of transcriptional arrest. Alpha-Amanitin-promoted degradation of RPB1 was prevented in cells exposed to actinomycin D, another transcriptional inhibitor. Epitope-tagged recombinant human RPB1 subunits were expressed in mouse fibroblasts. In cells exposed to alpha-amanitin the wild-type recombinant subunit was degraded like the endogenous protein, but a mutated alpha-amanitin-resistant subunit remained unaffected. Hence, alpha-amanitin did not activate a proteolytic system, but instead its binding to mRPB1 likely represented a signal for degradation. Thus, in contrast to other inhibitors, such as actinomycin D or 5,6-dichloro-1-beta-D-ribofuranosyl-benzimidazole, which reversibly act on transcription, inhibition by alpha-amanitin cannot be but an irreversible process because of the destruction of RNAPII.