Open AccessInduction of erythroid differentiation by dimethylsulfoxide in cells infected with Friend virus: relationship to the cell cycle.
Author(s) -
Joseph Levy,
Masaaki Terada,
Richard A. Rifkind,
Paul A. Marks
Publication year - 1975
Publication title -
proceedings of the national academy of sciences of the united states of america
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 1091-6490
pISSN - 0027-8424
DOI - 10.1073/pnas.72.1.28
Subject(s) - cellular differentiation , dna synthesis , biology , cell cycle , thymidine , friend virus , cell culture , virus , intracellular , cell division , dna , microbiology and biotechnology , dimethyl sulfoxide , cell , biochemistry , chemistry , virology , gene , genetics , organic chemistry
Cells infected with Friend virus can be induced to erythroid differentiation by culture with 2% dimethylsulfoxide. This study was designed to determine if dimethylsulfoxide causes the expression of erythroid differentiation by an effect on a particular phase of the cell division cycle. The infected cells were synchronized by exposure to 2 mM thymidine. It is shown that dimethylsulfoxide must be present during DNA synthesis (S-phase) and, possibly, shortly thereafter, to induce differentiation assayed by measuring hemoglobin synthesis. In order to achieve an effective intracellular incorporation of dimethylsulfoxide, cells must be exposed to the agent for at least 24-30 hr before the critical S phase. It is suggested that induction of erythroid differentiation in cells infected with Friend virus involves an effect of dimethylsulfoxide, or a metabolic product, that alters the program of transcription, during or immediately after DNA synthesis.