The role of a 70 kDa nuclear protein in fetal haemoglobin synthesis in K562 cells

Abstract. Previously, we reported that a 70 kDa nuclear protein may regulate fetal haemoglobin gene expression in haemin treated K562 cells. To obtain further evidence of the specific role of this 70 kDa nuclear protein, we compared the nuclear fractions isolated from phenylacetate, hydroxyurea and haemin treated K562 cells. Both phenylacetate and hydroxyurea have been used to induce fetal haemoglobin synthesis in K562 cells. Cell growth was measured by biochemical events including DNA, RNA and protein synthesis. Differentiation of K562 cells was determined by both ³H]-leucine incorporation into fetal haemoglobin and scoring benzidine-stained positive cells. Unlike the haemin treated cells, phenylacetate and hydroxyurea induced growth arrest and increased fetal haemoglobin gene expression in K562 cells. After four days of treatment with phenylacetate and hydroxyurea more than 50% of the cells stained positive with benzidine. The SDS-Polyacrylamide gel electrophoretic analysis of nuclear proteins isolated from phenylacetate and hydroxyurea treated K562 cells showed that the 70 kDa protein was reduced in nuclear protein extract in both groups similar to haemin treated cells. These results suggest that the loss of the 70 kDa protein from a nuclear protein extract is not restricted to only haemin treated cells but also occurs in hydroxyurea and phenylacetate treated cells. Our results provide further evidence that the 70 kDa nuclear protein may be involved in regulating fetal haemoglobin expression through a negative control mechanism.