Binding and uptake of mercuric chloride in human lymphoid cells.

Animal and human lymphoid cells are stimulated in their DNA synthesis by mercuric chloride. A direct binding of labelled mercuric chloride (203HgCl2) to the membranes of human thymocytes and peripheral blood lymphocytes could be demonstrated as early as 15 min after isotope addition. There was also an uptake of mercury in the nuclei, as determined by liquid scintillation. The isotope activity was recovered in the phenol-soluble nuclear fraction, i.e. containing non-histone phosphoproteins.