THE ESSENTIALITY OF FOLATE FOR THE MAINTENANCE OF DEOXYNUCLEOTIDE PRECURSOR POOLS, DNA-SYNTHESIS, AND CELL-CYCLE PROGRESSION IN PHA-STIMULATED LYMPHOCYTES

The fidelity and progression of DNA synthesis is critically dependent on the correct balance and availability of the deoxynucleoside triphosphate (dNTP) precursors for the polymerases involved in DNA replication and repair. Because folate-derived one-carbon groups are essential for the de novo synthesis of both purines and pyrimidines, the purpose of this study was to determine the effect of folate deprivation on deoxynucleotide pool levels and cell cycle progression. Primary cultures of phytohemagglutin (PHA)-stimulated splenocytes were used as the cellular model. T-cells and macrophages were purified from spleen cell suspensions obtained from F344 rats and recombined in culture. The cells were harvested after a 66-hr incubation with PHA and analyzed for nucleotide levels by reverse-phase HPLC with diode array detection. The proportion of cells in the different phases of the cell cycle was determined by bivariate flow cytometric measurement of bromodeoxyuridine (BrdU) incorporation and DNA content (propidium iodide staining). PHA-stimulated T-cells cultured in medium lacking folate and methionine manifested significant decreases in the deoxynucleotides dCTP, dTMP, dGTP, and dATP relative to cells cultured in complete medium. The reduction in dNTP pools was associated with a decrease in the corresponding ribonucleotide pools. Flow cytometric analysis revealed a 2-fold increase in S and G(2)/mitosis (G(2)/M) DNA content in PHA-stimulated cells cultured in the medium lacking folate and methionine, which suggests a delay in cell cycle progression. These alterations in DNA content were accompanied by a 5-fold decrease in BrdU incorporation relative to PHA-stimulated cells cultured in complete medium. Supplementation of the deficient medium with folate resulted in normalization of dNTP content and BrdU incorporation. The data are consistent with the interpretation that folate deprivation results in reduced dNTP levels that may retard DNA synthesis and cell cycle progression.