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Multiple H4 histone mRNAs of HeLa cells are encoded in different genes

Nature volume 298, pages 195–198 (1982)Cite this article

Abstract

We have previously reported the presence of at least two distinct mRNAs coding for histone H4 in HeLaS3 cells1,2. In this communication we report the resolution of at least seven different histone H4 mRNAs, each of which codes for histone H4. The presence of different mRNAs coding for the same protein could be explained either by the presence of different genes that have diverged without changing the encoded amino acid sequence (there are 20–40 copies of the histone genes per haploid genome in human cells3), or by differential processing of the same primary transcript. By hybridizing a series of cloned genomic human H4 histone sequences to the histone H4 mRNAs and digesting with S1 nuclease, we have shown that different H4 histone mRNA species are protected from nuclease digestion by different H4 histone genes, suggesting that at least three of the HeLa H4 histone mRNAs are the products of distinct genes.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, 32610, USA

    A. C. Lichtler, F. Sierra & G. S. Stein

  2. Department of Biochemistry, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, South Australia

    S. Clark & J. R. E. Wells

  3. Department of Immunology and Medical Microbiology, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, 32610, USA

    J. L. Stein

Authors
  1. A. C. Lichtler
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  2. F. Sierra
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  3. S. Clark
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  4. J. R. E. Wells
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  5. J. L. Stein
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  6. G. S. Stein
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Lichtler, A., Sierra, F., Clark, S. et al. Multiple H4 histone mRNAs of HeLa cells are encoded in different genes. Nature 298, 195–198 (1982). https://doi.org/10.1038/298195a0

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