EXPRESSION OF DIFFERENTIATION-RELATED MARKERS IN TERATOCARCINOMA CELLS VIA HISTONE HYPERACETYLATION BY TRICHOSTATIN-A

The effects of trichostatin A (TSA), a potent and specific inhibitor of mammalian histone deacetylase, on mouse teratocarcinoma cell (F9) differentiation were investigated. TSA caused marked changes in the morphology of cells and stimulated the production of plasminogen activator within 24 hr depending on de novo synthesis of RNA and protein. During the initial 6 hr of incubation, a significant accumulation of hyperacetylated histone species was observed. These results suggest that histone acetylation due to inhibition of the deacetylase is involved in the early stage of morphological and biological differentiation induced by TSA.