A characterization of variant V79 cells selected by tritium uridine suicide

Author

Richard O. Whitehouse

Date of Award

8-1981

Degree Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Science

Major Professor

Robert E. Bryant

Abstract

In a previous study, mutagenized cells of the V79 hamster cell line were isolated by tritiated uridine suicide. Preliminary screening from that work indicated that some of the mutants had a decrease in whole cell incorporation of uridine and a decrease in the activity of the enzyme uridine kinase. A rigorous analysis of the uridine kinase was undertaken in this study for three of the variant clones. The results of this study indicate that the mutant cells have a maximal enzyme velocity of only 4% to 6% of that observed for the parental cell line. This decrease in velocity was accompanied by a ten-fold reduction in the Michaelis constant of this enzyme for uridine. These observations are consistent with a mutation in a structural gene for uridine kinase.

Recommended Citation

Whitehouse, Richard O., "A characterization of variant V79 cells selected by tritium uridine suicide. " Master's Thesis, University of Tennessee, 1981.
https://trace.tennessee.edu/utk_gradthes/15342