Regulation of RNA synthesis in fibroblasts during transition from resting to growing state.

Addition of serum, containing fibroblast growth factors, to a culture of resting 3T6 cells stimulates a transition to the growing state. Studies of ghost monolayers prepared with the aid of detergent at intervals after stimulation showed an increase in the rate of ribosomal RNA synthesis within 10 min. The rate continued to increase for many hours and reached a level 2.5- to 3.5-fold higher by the time DNA synthesis began. The increasing rate of ribosomal RNA synthesis appeared independent of an increase in the number of ribosomal genes, since it was not affected by prevention of DNA synthesis with cytosine arabinoside. In contrast to ribosomal RNA, the overall rate of transscription of heterogeneous nuclear RNA was not directly affected by serum growth factors and does not appear to be regulated during the transition from resting to growing state. It seems, instead, to be fixed in relation to the amount of template, for it increases proportionally to DNA content.