The effect of chlorambucil on the biosynthesis of the HMG and histone H1 chromosomal proteins of HEp-2 cells.

The effect of chlorambucil, a bisalkylating agent, on the biosynthesis of the 5% PCA extractable protein fraction of the cancer cell line, HEp-2, has been analyzed. It was found that the synthesis of all the high mobility group proteins as well as that of the H1 and H1o histone proteins are inhibited by this agent. HMG 14 and the H1, H1o proteins are inhibited to the same extent as that reported for the core histones of the same cell line [7], while slightly higher levels of inhibition were found for the HMG 1, 2 and 17 proteins. The proteins, P1 and HMG I exhibited the highest level of inhibition of the entire fraction. These findings extend previous findings regarding the histone proteins and may be correlated to a dysfunction in the normal process of chromatin condensation and a potential cytotoxic effect of this agent during the G2 phase.