ABSTRACT
Studies on histone biosynthesis and turnover represent an important aspect of the general knowledge of cellular biochemistry and physiology. Information about the biosynthesis of the common histone fractions represents one of the most controversial aspects of histone biochemistry. The biosynthesis of histones in the cytoplasm appears to be rather a general phenomenon since a situation similar to that reported in HeLa cells was also reported for developing sea urchin embryos. HeLa cell infection with herpes simplex virus resulted in a general inhibition of protein synthesis, including the histones. The experiments with specific inhibitors of protein, DNA or RNA synthesis suggest that histones are biosynthesized by mechanisms similar to those for other proteins. The biosynthetic rates of histones in these cells were quite similar and each fraction was biosynthesized concomitantly with DNA replication. The relatively late appearance of typical histones during embryogenesis is compatible with their possible role as permanent DNA repressors.
