DNA precursor pools and ribonucleotide reductase activity: distribution between the nucleus and cytoplasm of mammalian cells

Nuclear and whole-cell deoxynucleoside triphosphate (dNTP) pools were measured in HeLa cells at different densities and throughout the cell cycle of synchronized CHO cells. Nuclei were prepared by brief detergent (Nonidet P-40) treatment of subconfluent monolayers, a procedure that solubilizes plasma membranes but leaves nuclei intact and attached to the plastic substratum. Electron microscopic examination of monolayers treated with Nonidet P-40 revealed protruding nuclei surrounded by cytoskeletal remnants. Control experiments showed that nuclear dNTP pool sizes were stable during the time required for isolation, suggesting that redistribution of nucleotides during the isolation procedure was minimal. Examination of HeLa whole-cell and nuclear dNTP levels revealed that the nuclear proportion of each dNTP was distinct and remained constant as cell density increased. In synchronized CHO cells, all four dNTP whole-cell pools increased during S phase, with the dCTP pool size increasing most dramatically. The nuclear dCTP pool did not increase as much as the whole-cell dCTP pool during S phase, lowering the relative nuclear dCTP pool. Although the whole-cell dNTP pools decreased after 30 h of isoleucine deprivation, nuclear pools did not decrease proportionately. In summary, nuclear dNTP pools in synchronized CHO cells maintained a relatively constant concentration throughout the cell cycle in the face of larger fluctuations in whole-cell dNTP pools. Ribonucleotide reductase activity was measured in CHO cells throughout the cell cycle, and although there was a 10-fold increase in whole-cell activity during S phase, we detected no reductase in nuclear preparations at any point in the cell cycle.