Induction of erythroid differentiation in murine erythroleukemia cells by N-substituted polymethylene diamides.

Various N-substituted polymethylene diamides were synthesized and tested for their potency to induce erythroid differentiation in murine erythroleukemia cells. N,N,N',N'-tetramethyl-1.6-hexane-dicarboxamide (IIc) was the most potent inducer among 15 compounds tested. The effectiveness of this compound was similar to that of hexamethylene bisacetamide (HMBA). HMBA has a different amide linkage order from that of IIc. HMBA and IIc at a concentration of 5 mM had similar effects on the cell growth rate and induced a similar frequency of benzidine-positive cells. However, hemoglobin production was 1.5 times more effective with IIc. Polymethylene diester, diamide, dihydrazide and dianilide had no effect on the induction of hemoglobin synthesis. The N-alkylated amide group appears to be required for induction of differentiation in murine erythroleukemia cells.