Thymidine Kinase and DNA Polymerase Activity in Normal and Zinc Deficient Developing Rat Embryos

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Abstract
Thymidine kinase and DNA polymerase activities were significantly (P < 0.05 and P < 0.01, respectively) lower in 9, 10, 11 and 12 day rat embryos taken from dams fed a Zn deficient diet than in those from ad lib fed and restricted intake controls. Increased activity of both thymidine kinase and DNA polymerase with increasing age of embryos was also found. As previously found with thymidine kinase, addition of Zn and other divalent metal ions in vitro had little effect on restoration of DNA polymerase activity from Zn deficient extracts when added at concentrations of 0.01 and 0.05 mM. When added at a level of 0.2 mM, Zn, but not other metal ions, had an inhibitory effect on DNA polymerase activity. These findings support the hypothesis that the teratogenic effects of Zn deficiency are associated with the enzymes involved in DNA synthesis.

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