MODULATION OF THE C-MYB, C-MYC AND P53 MESSENGER-RNA AND PROTEIN-LEVELS DURING INDUCED MURINE ERYTHROLEUKEMIA CELL-DIFFERENTIATION

Abstract

The induction of murine erythroleukemia cells (MELC) to terminal differentiation by hexamethylene bisacetamide (HMBA) is accompanied by changes in the levels of c-myb and c-myc mRNA, and in p53 protein levels. We simultaneously examined the effects of HMBA on modulation of c-myb, c-myc and p53 mRNA and protein levels, and examined the relationship between these changes and commitment to terminal cell division. In MELC cultured with HMBA, c-myb protein levels paralleled c-myb mRNA levels except at 24 h, when the protein level was equivalent to the level in control cultures, whereas the mRNA had decreased. The c-myc protein paralleled c-myc mRNA throughout induction. The p53 mRNA and protein behaved in a discordant fashion. The p53 protein decresed to very low levels between 4 and 8 h and remained low, while the mRNA, which initially decreased, reaccumulated by 24 and 48 h. Transfer of MELC after 12 to 48 h of culture with HMBA to medium without inducer resulted in rapid (< 3h) reaccumulation of the c-myb mRNA, c-myb protein, and p53 protein, and cessation of recruitment of cells to commitment. Cells already induced to commit to terminal differentiation continued to express the differentiated phenotype.