Metabolism of cytosine arabinoside in Tetrahymena pyriformis

The metabolism of cytosine arabinoside (araC) in Tetrahymena pyriformis amicronucleate strain W was studied. araC inhibited cell multiplication and protein synthesis at concentrations higher than 0.1 and 0.25 M respectively. araC had no effect on protein synthesis. araC was converted to araCMP, araCDP and araCTP by homogenized cell preparations. A deaminase activity converted araC to uracil arabinoside. The deaminase activity totally inhibited by tetrahydrouridine (THU) at a concn of 4 X 10(-6) M. The Ki for THU was 8 X 10(-8) M.