Allosteric interaction of components of the replitase complex is responsible for enzyme cross-inhibition

The enzymes of DNA polymerization and DNA precursor synthesis are assembled in the replitase complex during the S phase of the cell cycle. Cross-inhibition is a phenomenon shown by enzymes of the replitase complex, in which inhibition of one enzyme of the complex leads to inhibition of a second, unrelated enzyme. This inhibition occurs only in vivo and only during S phase. The second enzyme shows no inhibition in vitro. In this study, using Chinese hamster embryo fibroblast cells, we have shown that direct allosteric interactions, i.e., structural interaction from a remote site within the replitase complex, is the cause of cross-inhibition of thymidylate synthase activity by the inhibitors of ribonucleotide reductase and DNA polymerase, because disruptions of the deoxynucleotide pools, which would be predicted for alternative explantations, do not occur. Cross-inhibition of DNA polymerase by hydroxyurea is demonstrated by the cessation of DNA synthesis when ribonucleotide reductase block is circumvented by the provision of all four deoxynucleosides. In addition to the cross-inhibition for thymidylate synthase and DNA polymerase, we have also presented evidence, on the basis of alterations of the in vivo conversion of deoxyuridine to dUMP, that cross-inhibition also occurs for the enzyme thymidine kinase. This conclusion is further supported by the lack of inhibition of the similar process in RNA synthesis, because enzymes of RNA synthesis are not included in the replitase complex. To facilitate the measurements, we have introduced a novel method of distinguishing between thymidine and deoxyuridine derivatives, making use of the fact that a tritium label placed in the 5'-position of deoxyuridine is removed on conversion to thymidine by methylation, whereas a tritium placed in the 6'-position is not.