The inhibition of the mitogenic stimulation of B lymphocytes by a serine protease inhibitor: commitment to proliferation correlates with an enhanced expression of a cell-associated arginine-specific serine enzyme.

By the use of diisopropylfluorophosphate (DFP) we have been able to show that the mitogenic stimulation of murine B lymphocytes can be maximally inhibited a few hours before commitment of the cells to DNA synthesis. This inhibition was shown to be specific for a serine enzyme(s). The results of experiments designed to determine the location of this enzyme indicated that the mitogens-linked serine enzyme is not a secreted extracellular factor but is cell-associated. Fluorographic analysis of electrophoretic gels of cell homogenates labeled with [3H]DFP revealed the presence of one major and three minor bands which were arginine-specific serine enzymes. In stimulated cells, there was a clear quantitative difference in the amount of [3H]DFP bound to the major band (approx. 23,000 m.w.) suggesting that this protein may be critical to the progression of the cells through the cell cycle into the S phase of DNA synthesis.