HYDROXYUREA: INHIBITORY EFFECT ON DNA METABOLISM

Abstract

Hydroxyurea, hydroxyurethane, and dihydroxyurea inhibit incorporation of thymidine into the DNA of monolayers of HeLa cells. They do not affect incorporation of uridine into RNA or of leucine into protein. In contrast, hydroxylamine inhibits cellular incorporation of all three precursors: thymidine, uridine, and leucine. Hydroxyurea does not affect thymidine kinase, thymidylate kinase, or DNA polymerase reactions, but it does inhibit incorporation of cytidylic and guanylic acids into DNA in cell-free supernatants.