Clonal variation in albumin messenger RNA activity in hepatoma cells.

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Abstract
The clonal variation in rate of albumin synthesis in [rat] hepatoma cells is described as a tool for the study of epigenetic control of differentiation. Previous studies demonstrated that, from a population of hepatoma cells, variant subclones can be readily isolated that produce albumin at different rates. Each clonal variant had a characteristic rate of albumin production, and the clones clustered around discrete values that formed a geometric progression. The present experiments, using a cell-free protein-synthesizing system from wheat germ, show that albumin mRNA activity is directly proportional to the rate of albumin synthesis in 3 hepatoma clones, suggesting pretranslational control of albumin production. Possible hypotheses to explain the geometric pattern of clonal variation are discussed with respect to the organization and control of the transcriptional unit.