Hemoglobin is a late event in the differentiation of Friend erythroleukemic cells in-vitro. I. The role of interferon-induced proteins.

Here we report that the interferon (IFN)-induced proteins, 2'-5'-oligoadenylate synthetase (OAS) and IFN-induced protein kinase (PKI), appearance and activity precede that of hemoglobin (Hb) in the differentiation process of Friend erythroleukemic cells (FLC). Since our results are correlative, we assume that OAS and PKI are activated, and act at an early stage in the differentiation process, enabling the late onset of Hb synthesis. It is, thus, suggested that red blood cells harboring specific differentiating genes may be used as more efficient carriers of oxygen-binding molecules.