Haem is necessary for a continued increase in ferrochelatase mRNA in murine erythroleukaemia cells during erythroid differentiation

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Abstract
Summary The level of mRNA encoding ferrochelatase (FeC) was examined in two murine erythroleukaemia (MEL) clones, DS and DR, a DMSO‐sensitive, and a DMSO‐resistant clone, respectively. DS cells undergo erythroid differentiation by DMSO treatment with a marked increase in haem synthesis, while DR cells fail to do so due to the lack of the erythroid‐specific δ‐aminolaevulinate synthase (ALAS‐E). Both DS and DR cells showed an increase in the level of FeC mRNA within 18 h of DMSO treatment. The level of FeC mRNA in DR cells was then decreased, while that in DS cells continued to increase for 72 h. Treatment with haemin significantly increased FeC mRNA in DR cells. When cells were treated with both DMSO and haemin, the level of FeC mRNA in DR cells increased to a level comparable to that in DS cells. These findings suggest that the failure to maintain increased FeC mRNA DR cells after DMSO treatment may be due to a deficiency of haem in these cells.