c-myc mRNA levels in the cell cycle change in mouse erythroleukemia cells following inducer treatment.

Several lines of evidence suggest that the c-myc protooncogene is involved in some aspect of cell division in mammalian cells. We have been investigating changes in the expression of c-myc mRNA in mouse erythroleukemia cells during chemically induced terminal erythroid differentiation. In vitro induction of erythroleukemia cell differentiation results in a switch from cells with unlimited proliferative capacity to cells that undergo a small number of terminal cell divisions. The level of c-myc mRNA changes rapidly following treatment with inducing agents. After a very rapid decline the mRNA is restored to pretreatment levels and then declines again. We have now measured the level of c-myc mRNA with respect to position in the cell cycle. Prior to inducer treatment the level of c-myc mRNA is relatively constant throughout the cell cycle. However, when the mRNA is restored following treatment with hypoxanthine or hexamethylenebisacetamide, it is found primarily in cells in the G1 phase. Thus, treatment with inducers of differentiation leads to a change in the cell cycle regulation of c-myc mRNA. This change may be involved in the altered proliferative capacity of the cells that occurs during terminal differentiation.