The RNA Nucleotide Composition in Human Leukocytes from Normal and Leukemic Cases

The RNA-nucleotide composition of leukocytes from normal and leukemicpatients has been analyzed. The amount of the four mononucleotides per 10⁹leukocytes is significantly increased in patients with either chronic lymphocyticor chronic granulocytic leukemia when compared with leukocytes from normalsubjects. High values have been observed in acute granulocytic leukemia andduring blastic crisis occurring in cases of chronic granulocytic leukemia. Thissuggests that the mononucleotide increase may be correlated with the numberof blast cells. The molar base composition of the 4 mononucleotides and theratio of 6-keto/6-amino acids and that of purine/pyrimidine bases in all leukemic cells examined were similar to the ratios occurring in normal leukocytes.

The significance of these findings, relative to the theory of viral origin ofhuman leukemia, is discussed.

Submitted on December 27, 1965 Accepted on May 22, 1967