title: Biosynthesis rates and content of thymosin beta 4 in cell lines.
abstract: The content and relative biosynthetic rates of thymosin beta 4 have been determined in 28 different cell lines. The highest content of thymosin beta 4 as well as the highest rate of biosynthesis was observed in Epstein-Barr virus-transformed human B-cell lines. The levels observed in these cells are 1 pg thymosin beta 4 per cell, which is three times higher than that in rat peritoneal macrophages. Thus, these B-cell lines have the highest content of thymosin beta 4 of any cell type yet described. Since all of the Epstein-Barr virus-transformed B-cells described here grow in suspension, it is unlikely that the presence of thymosin beta 4 is related to anchorage in these cells. Thymosin beta 4 is not secreted by viable Epstein-Barr virus-transformed B cells in culture, suggesting some intracellular function of the peptide. These results indicate that these B-cell lines may be suitable for the study of thymosin beta 4 function.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Hannappel
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Leibold
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002460:Cell Line; D002472:Cell Transformation, Viral; D003470:Culture Media / Q000032:analysis; D000882:Haplorhini; D004854:Herpesvirus 4, Human; D006801:Humans; D051379:Mice; D051381:Rats; D013947:Thymosin / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology; D000099201:Thymosin beta(4)
chemical_list: D003470:Culture Media; D013947:Thymosin; D000099201:Thymosin beta(4)