Biochemistry and enzyme induction in MC-29 virus-induced transplantable avian hepatoma

For the biochemical characterization of a new transplantable hepatoma derived from the MC-29 virus-induced liver tumor, the macromolecular content and the inducibility of glucose-6-phosphatase, glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase, and aryl hydrocarbon hydroxylase were compared in chicken liver and in this hepatoma. The alteration of the nucleocytoplasmic ratio was deduced from measurements of DNA, RNA, protein, and phospholipid contents of the whole cell homogenate and cell fractions. The increased nuclear and decreased cytoplasmic content of macromolecules suggests a dominancy of the nuclei in the tumor cells. Glucose-6-phosphatase and aryl hydrocarbon hydroxylase activities were lower by 60 and 80%, respectively, in the highly proliferating hepatoma than in the liver. In contrast, glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase activity increased in the hepatoma. However, enzyme inducers, such as methylcholanthrene, hydrocortisone, and insulin, were able to enhance the activity of these enzymes in the liver but had no stimulating effect on the hepatoma.