Synthesis and turnover of globin mRNA in murine erythroleukemia cells induced with hemin

When murine erythroleukemia (MEL) cells are induced with hemin, they carry out several early functions of the erythroid program. However, they do not become committed to terminal differentiation nor do they become benzidine positive. This is in contrast to MEL cells induced with dimethyl sulfoxide (Me(2)SO) which undergo a more complete program of erythroid differentiation. In order to determine the relationship between commitment and various events in the erythroid program, we compared the induction of MEL cells with hemin and with Me(2)SO. The amount of globin mRNA accumulated in inducing MEL cells and the rate of its synthesis and turnover were quantitated. Although MEL cells induced with hemin accumulated significantly less globin mRNA than did cells induced with Me(2)SO, the rate of synthesis of globin mRNA was the same in fully induced cells, irrespective of inducer. Therefore, there is no evidence that induction with hemin produces an early program that is different or altered from that which is part of Me(2)SO induction. MEL cells induced with Me(2)SO specifically destabilize their globin mRNA after 4 days of induction. This raises the question of whether this destabilization of globin mRNA is an independently programmed late event, as suggested by the time of its occurrence, or, alternatively, whether it might be the inevitable consequence of an early event(s). For instance, destabilization might be linked to the synthesis or translation of globin mRNA. Because MEL cells induced with hemin do not destabilize their globin mRNA, we have concluded that this turnover of globin mRNA is a late event, occurring only in a committed cell population.