RT Journal Article SR Electronic T1 Action of 2-beta-d-Ribofuranosylthiazole-4-carboxamide (tiazofurin) in Chinese hamster ovary and variant cell lines. JF Molecular Pharmacology JO Mol Pharmacol FD American Society for Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics SP 534 OP 539 VO 23 IS 2 A1 P P Saunders A1 R Kuttan A1 M M Lai A1 R K Robins YR 1983 UL http://molpharm.aspetjournals.org/content/23/2/534.abstract AB The metabolism and inhibitory activity of 2-beta-D-ribofuranosylthiazole-4-carboxamide (tiazofurin, RTC, NSC 286193) was studied in Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells and a series of mutants derived from them. Isotope incorporation experiments indicate dramatic inhibition of DNA and RNA synthesis by tiazofurin but little or no effect on protein synthesis. In CHO cells, tiazofurin is more toxic than ribavirin and also demonstrates a stronger inhibition of guanine nucleotide synthesis. Tiazofurin is phosphorylated by crude extracts of CHO cells. Variant cell lines lacking adenosine kinase (EC 2.7.1.20) or deoxycytidine kinase (EC 2.7.1.74) show no resistance to tiazofurin, suggesting that these enzymes are not responsible for the phosphorylation of tiazofurin. The inhibitory activity of this agent can be reversed by exogenously supplied guanine, suggesting that the inhibition is due, at least in part, to guanylate deficiency.