Inhibition of Transcription and Translation of Globin Messenger RNA in Dimethyl Sulfoxide-Stimulated Friend Erythroleukemic Cells Treated with Interferon

• Published in: Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences - PNAS 1977-05, Vol.74 (5), p.2036-2040
• Main Authors: Rossi, Giovanni B., Dolei, Antonina, Cioé, Livia, Benedetto, Arrigo, Matarese, Giovanni P., Belardelli, Filippo
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Animals; Cell Line; Cell membranes; Cell nucleus; Cell Nucleus - metabolism; Cells; Cytoplasm - metabolism; Dimethyl Sulfoxide - pharmacology; Friend murine leukemia virus; Globins - biosynthesis; Heme - biosynthesis; Hemoglobins - biosynthesis; Interferons; Interferons - pharmacology; L cells; Leukemia, Erythroblastic, Acute - metabolism; Leukemia, Experimental - metabolism; Messenger RNA; Neoplasm Proteins - biosynthesis; Protein Biosynthesis - drug effects; Radioactive decay; RNA; RNA, Messenger - metabolism; Transcription, Genetic - drug effects; Virology; Viruses
• ISSN: 0027-8424; 1091-6490
• DOI: 10.1073/pnas.74.5.2036

The addition of appropriate doses of interferon (IF) to cultures of Friend erythroleukemic cells inhibits dimethyl sulfoxide (Me2SO)-stimulated erythroid differentiation. In this study, the synthesis of heme, hemoglobin, and globin mRNA in Me2SO-stimulated cultures, with or without IF added, was compared. Although the hemoglobin content in Me2SO+IF-treated cultures was reduced 6- to 9-fold compared to that of cultures treated with Me2SO alone, there was less than a 2-fold decrease in the amount of heme accumulated. Globin mRNA, although unchanged in size or base sequence, was reduced in content in the Me2SO+IF cultures. The level of reduction of globin mRNA was insufficient to account for the lack of globin synthesis. Thus, it appears that IF may operate on two levels-one involving the transcription of globin mRNA and the other involving its translation.