L-mimosine, a plant amino acid, can reversibly block mammalian cells at late G1 phase and has been found to affect translation of mRNAs of the CDK inhibitor p27, translation initiation factor eIF3 p170, and ribonucleotide reductase M2. The effect of mimosine on the expression of these genes may be essential for the G1 phase arrest. To determine additional genes that may be early respondents to the mimosine treatment, we performed two-dimensional gel electrophoretic analysis of [35S]methionine-labeled cell lysates followed by identification of the altered protein spots by LC-tandem mass spectrometry. In this study, the synthesis of two protein spots (MIP42 and MIP17) was found to be enhanced by mimosine whereas the formation of another protein spot (MSP17) was severely blocked following mimosine treatment. These protein spots, MIP42, MIP17 and MSP17, were identified to be differentiation related gene 1 (Drg-1, also called RTP, cap43, rit42, Ndrg-1, PROXY-1), deoxyhypusine-containing eIF5A intermediate, and mature hypusine-containing eIF5A, respectively. The effect of mimosine on eIF5A maturation was due to inhibition of deoxyhypusine hydroxylase, the enzyme catalyzing the final step of hypusine biosynthesis in eIF5A. The mimosine-induced expression of Drg-1 was mainly attributable to increased transcription likely by the c-jun/AP-1 transcription factor. Since induction of Drg-1 is an early event after mimosine treatment and is observed before a notable reduction in the steady state level of mature eIF5A, eIF5A does not appear to be involved in the modulation of Drg-1 expression