Synthesis of an enzyme determined by an erythrocyte nucleus in a hybrid cell.

When a chick erythrocyte nucleus is introduced into the cytoplasm of a mutant mouse cell lacking the enzyme inosinic acid pyrophosphorylase, synthesis of the enzyme is induced. However, this synthesis does not begin until the erythrocyte nucleus develops a nucleolus. The kinetics of synthesis of the enzyme are essentially similar to those previously described for the synthesis of surface antigens specified by the chick nucleus. The results of both sets of experiments indicate that the nucleolus plays a critical role in the transfer of information from the genes to the cytoplasm of the cell.