Deoxyribonuclease activities in human leukemic cells and mouse lymphoblasts

Summary The deoxyribonuclease activities from human lymphocytes have been compared with the activities from acute lymphocytic leukemic cells and mouse leukemic cells L5178Y using the in situ detection of deoxyribonucleases in DNA-containing polyacrylamide gels following their separation by micro-disc-electrophoresis. A neutral deoxyribonuclease activity is completely missing in leukemic cells of untreated patients while a group of acid deoxyribonuclease activities is increased. A similar deoxyribonuclease pattern can be seen in L5178Y cells. Under medical treatment the increment of the acid deoxyribonuclease activities disappears and the neutral deoxyribonuclease activity reappears.