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Influence of Dimethyl Sulphoxide on Glycine Transport in Sarcoma-180 Tumour Cells

Nature volume 218, pages 583–584 (1968)Cite this article

Abstract

DIMETHYL sulphoxide (DMSO) inhibits a number of biosynthetic processes; growth of fibroblasts1 and bacteria2, DNA synthesis in sarcoma-180 tumour cells3, thyroidal transport and organification of iodine (our unpublished observations), and protein systhesis4,5 are all inhibited by sufficiently high concentrations of this compound in vitro. The activity of a number of enzymes6 is also reduced in similar concentrations of DMSO. An interesting fact is that these inhibitory effects of DMSO are reversible—they can be overcome by a sufficient reduction in the DMSO concentration, for example, by “washing” the tissue, cells or enzyme in physiological saline. The mechanism of DMSO inhibition, which is unknown, may involve non-specific enzyme inhibition, although the activity of some enzymes is increased in DMSO6.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Radiation Research Laboratory, College of Medicine, University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa

    RONALD F. HAGEMANN & TITUS C. EVANS

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  1. RONALD F. HAGEMANN
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  2. TITUS C. EVANS
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HAGEMANN, R., EVANS, T. Influence of Dimethyl Sulphoxide on Glycine Transport in Sarcoma-180 Tumour Cells. Nature 218, 583–584 (1968). https://doi.org/10.1038/218583a0

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