Effect of erythropoietin on acetylation and phosphorylation of bone marrow histones

Polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis was used to reveal in the rabbit bone marrow cells 5 main fractions of histone proteins which are present in other eukaryotic cells. The degree of acetylation and phosphorylation increased after erythropoietin injection or exposure to hypoxia. Phosphorylation was enhanced in every fraction. Stimulation of acetylation was noted in histones rich in arginine. Erythropoietin had no effect on the synthesis of marrow histones in the early period after a hypoxic stimulus.