Stimulation of DNA polymerase by factors isolated from Novikoff hepatoma

Extracts of Novikoff hepatoma cells contain factors capable of stimulating in vitro DNA synthesis several fold. The activity can be resolved into three separate protein peaks on DEAE-Sephadex. Two of these, factors II and III, have been purified and partially characterized. Both factors increase the initial rate of DNA synthesis and allow synthesis to proceed much longer. If either factor is added after synthesis by the DNA polymerase has reached a plateau, resumption of synthesis occurs. The factors appear to have different modes of action or sites of action since they show an additive effect even when a single one is used at saturating conditions. These factors are present in normal rat liver but at a concentration less than 5% of that found in the tumor cells. When tested with several highly purified DNA polymerases (DNA nucleotidyltransferase, EC 2.7.7.7), the factors show a much greater stimulation of homologous, non-mitochondrial enzymes (rat liver nuclear-, rat liver cytoplasmic-, or Novikoff-DNA polymerases) when compared with rat liver or calf liver mitochondrial-, Escherichia coli I-, or sea urchin nuclear-DNA polymerases. The mechanism of action of these factors is not known at present. No enzymatic activity has been associated with factor III. Highly purified, but not homogeneous, preparations of factor II contain low levels of endonuclease; it has not been established whether endonuclease is a contaminant or is responsible for the stimulating activity.