Stability of alpha and beta globin messenger RNA during induced differentiation of mouse erythroleukemia cells

Murine erythroleukemia cells (MELC) are induced to express erythroid differentiation when cultured with hexamethylene bisacetamide (HMBA). Newly synthesized alpha and beta globin mRNA are both relatively stable, half-life (t1/2) greater than 50 hr, early in the course of induced differentiation. In fully induced cells there is a decrease in stability of both newly synthesized alpha and beta globin mRNA. The decay of alpha mRNA is faster, (t 1/2, 10--12 hr) than beta globin mRNA (t1/2, 20--22 hr). Thus, differences in stability of alpha and beta globin mRNA plays a role in determining the ratio of alpha to beta mRNA content in differentiated erythroid cells.