Mode of Action of Steroid Hormones, Catecholamines and Hexose Oximes on DNA

Abstract

The activity of deoxyribonuclease was not influenced by steroid hormones, catecholamines and hexose oximes. Decomposition tests with deoxyriboapyrimidinic or deoxyriboapurinic acid showed that cortisone broke specifically purine clusters, and that dopamine and noradrenaline split pyrimidine clusters more preferentially than purine clusters. Glucosoxime and galactosoxime clove pyrimidine and purine clusters to the same extent. The decomposition of the acids by these compounds was remarkably enhanced by cupric ions. It is assumed that the induction of pupation by these substances may be initiated by the breakage of purine nucleotide clusters in chromosomal DNA molecules