Effect of calcium and toxic metals on RNA synthesis and transport in cortex cells of root meristem of Pisum sativum L.

Experiments with 3H uridine incorporation showed that a 144-hr treatment with cadmium, chromium or lead, each at a concentration of 10-4 M, as well as the addition of calcium (10 -3 M), affected RNA in the nucleolus, nucleoplasm and cytoplasm in cortex cells of pea root meristem. Disturbances in RNA transport (especially from the nucleolus to the cytoplasm) appearing due to toxic metals and calcium suggest that this RNA was mostly of nucleolar origin.