Specific stimulation of histone H2B and H4 phosphorylation in mouse lymphocytes by 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol 13-acetate.

This report demonstrates that the potent tumor promoter 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol 13-acetate rapidly stimulates the phosphorylation of histones H2B and H4 in a cell cycle-independent manner. This effect was observed in primary cultures of BALB/c mouse splenocytes, a population of noncycling, G0 cells which are not stimulated to divide by 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol 13-acetate treatment alone. The biological nature of this cell system allowed the analysis of histone phosphorylation in the absence of a background of cell cycle-dependent changes and in response to a nonmitogenic agent. The phosphorylation of H2B was determined with high resolution through the use of two-dimensional gel electrophoresis. In contrast to 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol 13-acetate, the mitogen from pokeweed did not induce stimulation of H2B and H4 phosphorylation, but did, however, elicit increases in the phosphorylation of histones H1, H2A, and H3, in parallel with changes in rate of DNA synthesis.