Changes in gene expression associated with induced differentiation of erythroleukemia: Protooncogenes, globin genes, and cell division

Abstract

Hexamethylenebisacetamide (HMBA)-induced differentiation of murine erythroleukemia cells (MELC) is a multistep process involving an early latent period during which a number of metabolic changes have been detected, but the cells are not yet committed irreversibly to differentiate. Commitment is defined as the capacity of MELC to go on to express the program of terminal cell division and gene expression (such as the accumulation of globin mRNA) upon removal of the HMBA from the culture. In the presence of HMBA, a small proportion of MELC are committed by 10-12 hr and >90% by 48-60 hr. The present study shows that, during the initial 4 hr of culture, HMBA causes a marked decrease in c-myb and ..