Abstract
Inhibition of the growth of
Tetrahymena pyriformis by 1-deaza-6-methyl-purine is not readily reversed by adenine. This purine analog also causes the death and eventual lysis of the cells. While it does not have a lethal effect, 6-methylpurine (6MeP) is a more potent inhibitor of growth, and is reversed by high concentrations of adenine. Low concentrations are ineffective. Synergistic reversing effects on inhibition by 6MeP are exhibited by combinations of small amounts of adenine (10–15 μg/ml) with acetate. Metabolites such as sterols and phospholipids produced biosynthetically from acetate are capable of replacing the mixture of acetate plus adenine (10–15 μg/ml). Peptides, but not amino acids, give additional release of inhibition in the presence of lipid materials. It is suggested that 6MeP interferes specifically with the production of acyl or amino acyl compounds, probably by affecting the synthesis or utilization of ATP, as well as by interfering with adenine utilization for nucleic acid synthesis.