Sodium arsenite induces chromosome endoreduplication and inhibits protein phosphatase activity in human fibroblasts

Journal Article · Tue Aug 01 04:00:00 EDT 1995 · Environmental and Molecular Mutagenesis

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1002/em.2850250304· OSTI ID:86423

Huang, Rong-Nan; Ho, I-Ching; Yih, Ling-Hui ^[1]

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1. Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Taiwan (China); and others

Arsenic, strongly associated with increased risks of human cancers, is a potent clastogen in a variety of mammalian cell systems. The effect of sodium arsenite (a trivalent arsenic compound) on chromatid separation was studied in human skin fibroblasts (HFW). Human fibroblasts were arrested in S phase by the aid of serum starvation and aphidicolin blocking and then these cells were allowed to synchronously progress into G2 phase. Treatment of the G2-enriched HFW cells with sodium arsenite (0-200 {mu}M) resulted in arrest of cells in the G2 phase, interference with mitotic division, inhibition of spindle assembly, and induction of chromosome endoreduplication in their second mitosis. Sodium arsenite treatment also inhibited the activities of serine/threonine protein phosphatases and enhanced phosphorylation levels of a small heat shock protein (HSP27). These results suggest that sodium arsenite may mimic okadaic acid to induce chromosome endoreduplication through its inhibitory effect on protein phosphatase activity. 61 refs., 6 figs., 2 tabs.

• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE
• OSTI ID: 86423
• Journal Information: Environmental and Molecular Mutagenesis, Journal Name: Environmental and Molecular Mutagenesis Journal Issue: 3 Vol. 25; ISSN EMMUEG; ISSN 0893-6692
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

56 BIOLOGY AND MEDICINE
APPLIED STUDIES
ARSENIC
BIOLOGICAL EFFECTS
CHROMOSOMAL ABERRATIONS
ENZYME ACTIVITY
FIBROBLASTS
MAN
PHOSPHATASES