GLOBIN-SYNTHESIS IN MOUSE ERYTHROLEUKEMIA CELLS INVITRO - SWITCH IN BETA-CHAINS DUE TO INDUCING AGENT

  • 1 January 1977
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 50  (5) , 867-876
Abstract
Friend erythroleukemia cells, originally derived from DBA/2 mice, differentiate when cultured with inducing agents. Studies of the different effects of inducing agents on clone 745 revealed that dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) and hemin produce benzidine-positive cells. Butyric acid produced mature but benzidine-negative cells in this clone. All agents induced globin synthesis above the 0.1% of protein synthesis found in uninduced cells. DMSO induction stimulated globin synthesis 9%, hemin 2% and butyric acid 3%. Total .beta./.alpha. ratios were approximately unity with all agents. Although the inducing agents all stimulated total globin synthesis in Friend cells, the relative rates of synthesis of the 2 mouse .beta. chains were affected differently by the various agents. Hemin increased the proportion of .beta. minor. DBA/2 mouse reticulocytes synthesized 20% .beta. minor and 80% .beta. major. DMSO induction of clone 745 caused 20-33% synthesis of .beta. minor, and butyric acid 30-37% .beta. minor. Hemin increased the proportion of .beta. minor to 64-69%. The Friend erythroleukemia cell system provides an in vitro approach to the study of the regulation of globin chain switching.