Increase of cytochrome b mRNA by bis(2-hydroxyethyl) trisulfide in J774A.1 cells

The effect of a cytotoxic substance (bis(2-hydroxyethyl) trisulfide; BS-1), isolated from Bacillus stearothermophilus UK563, on messenger ribonucleic acid (mRNA) level in mouse macrophage-like J774A.1 cells was investigated by the method of differential display. The treatment of J774A.1 cells with BS-1 led us to detect the inducible gene. The sequence analysis revealed that the gene was identical to mouse mitochondrial cytochrome b. In fact, Northern blot analysis showed that cytochrome b mRNA in J774A.1 cells was increased by BS-1.