Collect. Czech. Chem. Commun. 1990, 55, 2769-2780
https://doi.org/10.1135/cccc19902769

Cibacron Blue inhibition of prokaryotic and eukaryotic DNA-dependent RNA polymerases

Aleš Cvekl and Květa Horská

Institute of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry, Czechoslovak Academy of Sciences, 166 10 Prague 6

Abstract

A comparison was drawn between the action of Cibacron Blue F3GA on the enzymic activity of DNA-dependent RNA polymerases from different sources, e.g. Escherichia coli, calf thymus and wheat germ (polymerase II). Sensitivity towards this inhibitor was determined for polymer formation and primed abortive synthesis of trinucleotide UpApU. In case of E. coli polymerase and wheat germ polymerase II the dye inhibits both polymer formation and abortive synthesis. Calf thymus polymerase II is inhibited only in the polymerisation step. The primed initiation reaction was found to be resistant towards the dye. In case of E. coli polymerase and wheat germ polymerase II the sensitive step is the formation of internucleotide bond whereas in case of calf thymus polymerase II the translocation of the enzyme is influenced. An analysis of kinetic data indicates more than one binding site for the dye on RNA polymerase II from calf thymus and wheat germ. Cibacron blue does not inhibit specific transcription catalyzed by RNA polymerase III from human HeLa cells and mouse leukemia L1210 cells.