Further evidence of transcriptional and translational control of histone messenger RNA during the HeLa S3 cycle.

Using a translational assay and new analytical procedures we have found that: -Histone mRNA can be detected both associated with polyribosomes and in the postribosomal supernatant of S phase HeLa S3 cells.-Inhibition of DNA replication by cytosine arabinoside treatment causes histone mRNA to completely disappear from polyribosomes, and little histone mRNA can be detected in the postribosomal supernatant of inhibited cells. These data indicate that histone mRNA does not accumulate in the cytoplasm after the inhibition of DNA replication. -Histone mRNA species cannot be detected in the postribosomal supernatant of G1 cells synchronized by selective detachment. This observation, together with the previous finding that histone mRNA is not present on G1 polyribosomes, is consistent with the idea of a transcriptional block in histone mRNA production and transport to the cytoplasm during G1.