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At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1989

Oncogenicity of human N-ras oncogene and proto-oncogene introduced into retroviral vectors.

The N-ras gene is the only member of the ras family which has never been naturally transduced into a retrovirus. In order to study the in vitro and in vivo oncogenicity of N-ras and to compare its pathogenicity to that of H-ras, we have inserted an activated or a normal form of human N-ras cDNA into a slightly modified Harvey murine sarcoma virus-derived vector in which the H-ras p21 coding region had been deleted. The resulting constructions were transfected into NIH 3T3 cells. The activated N-ras-containing construct (HSN) induced 10(4) foci per microgram of DNA and was found to be as transforming as H-ras was. After infection of the transfected cells by either the ecotropic Moloney murine leukemia virus or the amphotropic 4070A helper viruses, rescued transforming viruses were injected into newborn mice. Both pseudotypes of HSN virus containing activated N-ras induced the typical Harvey disease with similar latency. However, we found that the virus which contained normal N-ras p21 (HSn) was also pathogenic and induced splenomegaly, lymphadenopathies, and sarcoma in mice after a latency of 3 to 7 weeks. In addition, Moloney murine leukemia virus pseudotypes of N-ras caused neurological disorders in 30% of the infected animals. These results differed markedly from those of previous experiments in which we had inserted the activated form of N-ras in the pSV(X) vector: the resulting SVN-ras virus was transforming on NIH 3T3 cells but was poorly oncogenic in vivo (M. Souyri, C. F. Koehne, P. V. O'Donnel, T. H. Aldrich, M. E. Furth, and E. Fleissner, Virology 158:69-78). However, similarly poor oncogenicity was also observed when the v-H-ras coding sequence was inserted in pSV(X) vector, which indicated that the vector sequences play a crucial role in the pathogenicity of a given oncogene. Altogether, these data demonstrated unequivocally that N-ras is potentially as oncogenic as H-ras and that such oncogenic effect could depend on the vector environment.

Animals↗
PubMedDate not supplied

DNA vaccine against oncogenic hamster cells transformed by HPV16 E6/E7 oncogenes and the activated ras oncogene.

The capability of DNA to elicit anti-tumour immunity was studied using human papillomavirus type 16 (HPV16)-transformed Syrian hamster cells denoted K3/II. These cells had been derived after cotransfection of primary kidney cell cultures with p16HHMo plasmid containing E6/E7 oncogenes of HPV16 and pEJ6.6 plasmid containing the activated human H-ras oncogene; they express both the HPV16 and activated H-ras genes. As a DNA vaccine, the p16HHMo plasmid was used. Three doses of the plasmid (either 100 microg or 10-15 microg per dose) were administered intramuscularly at 3-week intervals. The animals were challenged with four different doses (10(3)-10(6) per animal) of K3/II cells 10 days after the last plasmid injection. In one experiment the lower dose of plasmid DNA was also given in a mixture with the cationic lipid DOTAP. In another experiment, the pEJ6.6 plasmid (100 microg per dose) was used either alone or in combination with p16HHMo. In all experiments animals inoculated with the same doses of pBR322 plasmid served as controls. A moderate protective effect was observed in animals inoculated with the 100-microg doses of p16HHMo, but not in those inoculated with 10-15 microg of the same plasmid, whether given with or without DOTAP. A protective effect was also observed after administration of the pEJ6. 6 plasmid. At the time of challenge a portion of the p16HHMo-immunized, but not the pBR322-treated, animals possessed antibodies reactive in ELISA with peptides derived from the N-terminal portion of HPV16 E7 protein and with one peptide derived from E6 protein, while two other E6 peptides exhibited non-specific reactivity.

Animals↗
PubMed1993

Oncogenes of DNA and RNA tumor viruses and the origin of cellular oncogenes.

Oncogenes were first described as the genes of DNA tumor viruses responsible for in vivo and in vitro neoplastic transformation induced by such viruses. The first oncogenes described were the oncogenes of polyoma, SV40 and papilloma viruses. The polyoma virus oncogene has been designated the 'middle' T (tumor) antigen, whereas the SV40 oncogene is designated the 'large' T antigen. The large T of the polyoma virus can also be considered an oncogene, because it is capable of 'immortalizing', but not transforming primary cell cultures. Other oncogenes of DNA tumor viruses are the E1A of adenoviruses and the E7 gene of papilloma viruses. It has been proposed that some of the oncogenes of DNA tumor viruses act by binding the products of tumor suppressor genes, such as the retinoblastoma gene product Rb. In general, the products of the oncogenes of DNA tumor viruses need the cooperation of other oncogenes to establish a completely transformed phenotype. Oncogenes have been discovered in all replication defective RNA tumor viruses, whereas they are not present in the genomes of replication competent RNA tumor viruses, which can also give rise to a neoplastic phenotype, in vivo, but by a different mechanism. The discovery of oncogenes in RNA tumor viruses has led to the concept that these oncogenes are actually present in the genomes of all eucaryotic organisms and have been transduced and, in some cases, modified by a retrovirus. The characterization of the oncogenes of acute transforming retroviruses has led to the present classification of oncogenes, which include genes coding for proteins having different functional properties, but all characterized by having some role in the pathway which regulates cell proliferation. The experimental approach of DNA transfection has led to the discoveries of some oncogenes already known from the genomes of retroviruses and also of some new oncogenes which had never been transduced by retroviruses. The knowledge derived from retrovirus research and from the use of the DNA transfection technique has opened a whole new field of science thereby contributing greatly to our understanding of the mechanisms underlying neoplastic transformation and also to the understanding of normal cell physiology.

Animals↗
PubMed1992

Cooperation between the H-ras oncogene and a truncated derivative of the v-myb oncogene in transformation of hamster embryo fibroblasts.

The ras oncogenes alone fully transform established (immortalized) rodent fibroblasts in a few days, but generally transform early-passage fibroblasts only partially, unless their action is complemented by that of a nuclear, immortalizing, oncogene. Here we show that transfection of second-passage Syrian hamster embryo fibroblasts (HEFs) by the EJ-H-ras oncogene coupled to the neo gene, followed by selection with G418, gives rise to apparently normal, or only slightly transformed, clonal colonies, only a few of which become established. The study of two established clonal lines showed that they acquired only after some weeks, and stepwise, the main characteristics of full neoplastic transformation, i.e. anchorage independence, reduced requirement for serum growth factors and tumorigenicity. Later both clonal lines became increasingly tumorigenic and completely independent of exogenous growth and attachment factors, without increase in the expression of the H-ras oncogene. Transfection of one of the clones, early after its isolation, with a truncated derivative of the nuclear v-myb oncogene devoid of its transcriptional negative regulatory domain and able to partially transform chicken embryo fibroblasts [(myb(KXANM)] gave rise to more transformed cells, expressing both EJ-H-ras and myb(KXANM), which became tumorigenic earlier than the controls and remained more tumorigenic later on. With more efficient transfection techniques, numerous foci of fully transformed cells were subsequently obtained, in a few days, in cultures transfected sequentially with EJ-H-ras(neo) and myb(KXANM) and in cultures co-transfected with the two oncogenes. Highly tumorigenic, serum-independent and immortalized clones expressing both oncogenes were obtained from these cultures. Hence, the truncated myb(KXANM) oncogene accelerate the stepwise transformation of unestablished HEFs by the EJ-HH-ras oncogene and, together with this oncogene, fully transforms these same cells in a single step. The two oncogenes acting in cooperation also induce cell immortalization, but myb(KXANM), by itself, is not an immortalizing oncogene. No cooperation was observed between EJ-H-ras(neo) and the unaltered v-myb oncogene.

Animals↗
PubMed1994

[Oncogenes and anti-oncogenes in lung cancer].

In all normal cells, two type of genes, oncogenes and anti-oncogenes, are expressed and control cell proliferation and differentiation. Cell growth is stimulated by oncogenes and inhibited by anti-oncogenes. Cancerization involves loss of control due to defective gene expression either by overexpression of a normal protein (loss of quantitative control) or expression of an abnormal protein (loss of qualitative control). Several oncogenes have been identified. They include three oncogenes, c-myc, N-myc and L-myc, known to be overexpressed in small-cell carcinomas of the lung. Point mutations of the oncogene K-ras is found in 15 to 30% of adenoma carcinomas, especially in smokers. Loss of anti-oncogene function has also been described in processes leading to lung cancer. Chromosome abnormalities, for example the 3p14-23 deletion described in 1982, are found in 100% of small-cell carcinomas and in 50% of non-small-cell carcinomas. This deletion is never found in normal tissue. The gene involved has not yet been cloned. Other mutations or deletions include the RB gene, necessary for neuroendocrine differentiation, and the p53 gene which has undergone mutation in 50% of the non-small-cell carcinomas and 70% of the small-cell carcinomas. These acquired mutations are strongly associated with tobacco smoking. Oncogenes and anti-oncogenes play an important role in the complex step-wise process leading to cancerization. As tumour characterization becomes more precise and precancerous states better controlled, future treatments may relief on inhibiting tumoural growth by using drugs which would substitute for the lost effect of anti-oncogenes or inhibit activation of an oncogene. But at the present time, it is still difficult to define criteria predicting high risk of postoperative relapse or resistance and further studies investigating the correlation between genetic abnormalities and clinical staging and survival curves are required.

Cell Transformation, Neoplastic↗
PubMed1996

Activated N-ras oncogene and N-ras proto-oncogene act through the same pathway for in vivo tumorigenesis.

We compared the tumorigenic effects of the N-ras oncogene and the N-ras proto-oncogene in lymphoid and mammary tissues in an in vivo model. For this purpose, we generated transgenic mice with high levels of N-ras oncogene or N-ras proto-oncogene expression, driven by the complete mouse mammary tumor virus LTR (MMTV-LTR) (MMTV/N-rasT and MMTV/N-rasN constructs) and transgenic mice with low levels of N-ras oncogene or N-ras proto-oncogene expression, driven by a truncated MMTV-LTR (TMTV/N-rasT and TMTV/N-rasN constructs). We show that both, the N-ras proto-oncogene and the N-ras oncogene with a C:G-->A:T mutation at codon 61, lead to identical tumor types: lymphoblastic T-cell lymphomas, cleaved B-cell lymphomas and poorly differentiated mammary carcinomas. Nevertheless, there were quantitative differences in tumor incidence and latency and in transgene expression among N-ras oncogene and N-ras proto-oncogene transgenics. Despite these differences in tumor kinetics, the predisposition to identical tumor types is in agreement with the idea that the N-ras oncogene and the N-ras proto-oncogene act through the same pathway for in vivo tumorigenesis in B-cells, T-cells or mammary epithelial cells.

Animals↗
PubMed2004

Enhanced oncogenicity of Asian-American human papillomavirus 16 is associated with impaired E2 repression of E6/E7 oncogene transcription.

Asian-American (AA) variants of human papillomavirus 16 (HPV-16) are linked to a high incidence of cervical cancer in Mexico, with some evidence strongly suggesting that they are more oncogenic than European (E) variants, including their association with younger women and their higher associated risk of cervical cancer. Differences in the regulation of viral E6/E7 oncogene transcription by the E2 protein may be involved in the higher oncogenicity of AA variants. In E variants, E6/E7 oncogene transcription is repressed by the E2 protein and is frequently up-regulated by the destruction of the E2 gene during viral integration. In contrast, the E2 gene is retained in full in most AA-positive carcinomas, raising the possibility of alternative mechanisms for increasing viral oncogene transcription. The authors investigated whether the higher oncogenicity of AA variants is linked to differences in E6/E7 oncogene transcription and the mechanism of E2 deactivation. E6/E7 and E1/E2 transcripts were explored by RT-PCR in 53 HPV-16-positive cervical carcinomas, 39 retaining (20 European and 19 AA) and 14 having lost (12 European and 2 AA) the E1/E2 genes, and transcription repression activity of the AA E2 genes was tested in four cell lines that constitutively express the beta-galactosidase reporter or E6/E7 genes driven by the viral long control region. E6/E7 oncogene transcripts were found in all carcinomas, but only those positive for AA variants with E1/E2 genes had complete E2 transcripts. E2 transcripts were down-regulated by splicing in E-positive carcinomas retaining E1/E2. AA E2 genes were impaired for repression of E6/E7 oncogene transcription in vivo. These results suggest that E6/E7 oncogene expression starts earlier in AA than E variant infections, since E variants need E2 to be destroyed or down-regulated.

DNA-Binding Proteins↗
PubMed1996

Identification of a potential physiological substrate for oncogenic Ras-activated protein kinases in activated Xenopus egg extracts: correlation with oncogenic Ras-induced cell cycle arrest.

Activated Xenopus egg extracts are capable of undergoing cell-free cell cycling. Using these activated extracts, we previously showed that purified, bacterially expressed oncogenic human RasH protein arrests cell cycle progression. Because oncogenic Ras activates many serine/threonine protein kinases in Xenopus oocytes and egg extracts, it is possible that induction of cell cycle arrest involves the action of oncogenic Ras-activated kinases. Thus, the identification of the physiological substrates for oncogenic Ras-activated kinases is important for elucidating the molecular mechanism underlying oncogenic Ras-induced cell cycle arrest. We used 32P-orthophosphate as a label to identify the potential substrates. Our results demonstrated that the 32P-labeling of both a 32 and a 33 kDa protein were greatly enhanced by oncogenic Ras during the incubation of activated Xenopus egg extracts. The enhanced labeling correlated with the induced cell cycle arrest and was contributed by serine phosphorylation. Moreover, the 33 kDa protein was detected only in the presence of oncogenic Ras and was a serine-hyperphosphorylated form of the 32 kDa protein. Furthermore, new protein synthesis was not required for the enhanced labeling, consistent with the concept that the enhanced serine phosphorylation of the 32 kDa protein is by oncogenic Ras-activated protein kinases. In addition to serine phosphorylation, our results also suggested that an as yet unidentified modification of the 32 kDa protein might also be induced by oncogenic Ras. Our results suggest that the 32 kDa protein is a potential physiological substrate for oncogenic Ras-activated protein kinases.

14-3-3 Proteins↗
PubMed1989

[Detection of cellular proto-oncogenes and oncogenes].

Detection of proto-oncogenes in normal cells and oncogenes in cells of solid tumors and in leukemic cells confirmed the assumption on the genetic basis of neoplastic cell transformation. Proto-oncogenes constitute a specific group of genes involved in physiological processes of the cell. Inappropriately expressed forms of proto-oncogenes are referred to as oncogenes. Proto-oncogenes and oncogenes were detected either by means of animal oncogenic viruses, in in vitro transfection experiments, or by means of some cytological methods revealing chromosomal abnormalities. Proto-oncogenes were detected in cells of phylogenetically very distant species, suggesting their importance in the regulation of the cell cycle.

Animals↗
PubMed1998

Transforming oncogenes regulate glucose transport by increasing transporter affinity for glucose: contrasting effects of oncogenes and heat stress in a murine marrow-derived cell line.

Transforming oncogenes often overcome the growth factor requirements of cells by activating growth factor signal transduction pathways. Increased energy utilization by transformed cells is a well known phenomenon, but whether glucose uptake is regulated at the level of the glucose transporter has not been clearly established. To determine whether cell transformation by specific oncogenes like, v-H-ras and v-abl affects the activation state of glucose transporters, bone marrow-derived IL-3-dependent 32D (clone3) cells transfected with temperature-sensitive ras and abl oncogenes were used to compare proliferative responses and glucose transporting ability of these cells with the parental cell line at permissive (32 degrees C) and non-permissive (40 degrees C) temperatures. Transformed cells showed elevated incorporation of [3H]thymidine and enhanced tyrosine kinase activity, both of which were abrogated in temperature-sensitive mutants maintained at the non-permissive temperature. Compared with control cells, 2-deoxy-D-[1-(3)H]glucose (2-DOG) uptake was not significantly different in transformed cells at the permissive temperature. However, transformation was associated with a 2-2.5-fold greater affinity of glucose transporters for glucose (Km) and this was reversed following treatment with tyrosine kinase inhibitor, genistein. Maximum velocity of glucose transport (Vmax) and membrane expression of transporters were reduced in oncogene-transformed cells. At the non-permissive temperature, glucose uptake was elevated in both control and oncogene-transformed cells. This increase in glucose transport was not associated with a change in transporter affinity for glucose, but increased Glut-1 expression was observed indicating a 'heat stress' effect that overrode the effects attributable to oncogene loss. The 'heat stress' effect was inhibited by protein synthesis inhibitor cycloheximide. These results provide evidence for intrinsic activation of glucose transporters by the transforming oncogenes ras and abl, and indicate that oncogenes and 'heat stress' regulate glucose transport by different mechanisms.

Animals↗
PubMed1992

The v-ski oncogene cooperates with the v-sea oncogene in erythroid transformation by blocking erythroid differentiation.

The avian retrovirus oncogene v-ski was analysed for its ability to alter the differentiation program of erythroid cells and to cooperate with tyrosine kinase oncogenes in leukemogenesis. For this, a retrovirus combining v-ski with a temperature-sensitive version of the v-sea oncogene was constructed. In transformed erythroblasts, v-ski disturbed the concerted expression of several erythrocyte genes, leading to an abnormal erythroblast phenotype. Expression levels of hemoglobin and erythrocyte anion transporter (band 3) were elevated, while expression of the erythroid-specific histone H5 was strongly suppressed. v-ski could also be shown to repress or severely retard the temperature-induced erythroid differentiation of v-ski/ts-v-sea-transformed cells. The undifferentiated cells had an abnormal erythroblast or early reticulocyte phenotype characterized by unusually low levels of histone H5. In chicks, the v-ski/ts-v-sea virus displayed enhanced leukemogenicity compared with viruses containing just the single oncogenes. Thus, v-ski cooperates with tyrosine kinase oncogenes in a similar fashion to the v-erbA oncogene, however the pattern of genes affected by these two oncogenes is different.

Animals↗
PubMed2007

Oncogenic KRAS provides a uniquely powerful and variable oncogenic contribution among RAS family members in the colonic epithelium.

Activating mutations of the RAS family of small GTPases are among the most common genetic events in human tumorigenesis. Constitutive activation of the three canonical family members, KRAS, NRAS, and HRAS segregate strongly by tissue type. Of these, KRAS mutations predominate in human tumors, including those arising from the colon and lung. We sought to compare the oncogenic contributions of different RAS isoforms in a comparable genetic setting and to explore downstream molecular changes that may explain the apparent differential oncogenic effects of the various RAS family members. We utilized colorectal cancer cell lines characterized by oncogenic KRAS in parallel with isogenically derived lines in which the mutant allele has been disrupted. We additionally attempted to reconstitute the isogenic derivatives with oncogenic forms of other RAS family members and analyze them in parallel. Pairwise analysis of HCT 116 and DLD-1 cell lines as well as their isogenic derivatives reveals distinct K-RAS(G13D) signatures despite the genetic similarities of these cell lines. In DLD-1, for example, oncogenic K-RAS enhances the motility of these cells by downregulation of Rap1 activity, yet is not associated with increased ERK1/2 phosphorylation. In HCT 116, however, ERK1/2 phosphorylation is elevated relative to the isogenic derivative, but Rap1 activity is unchanged. K-RAS is uniquely oncogenic in the colonic epithelium, though the molecular aspects of its oncogenic contribution are not necessarily conserved across cell lines. We therefore conclude that the oncogenic contribution of K-RAS is a function of its multifaceted functionality and is highly context-dependent.

Cell Line, Tumor↗
PubMed1987

Structure of the feline c-fes/fps proto-oncogene: genesis of a retroviral oncogene.

The nucleotide sequence of the feline c-fes/fps proto-oncogene was analyzed. Comparison with v-fes and v-fps revealed that all v-fes/fps homologous sequences were dispersed over 11 kilobase pairs in 19 interspersed segments. All segments, numbered exon 1 to exon 19 as in the chicken and human loci, were flanked by consensus splice junctions. The putative promoter region contained a CATT sequence and three CCGCCC motifs which were also found in the human locus at similar positions. About 200 nucleotides downstream of a translational stop codon in exon 19, a putative poly(A) addition signal was identified. Using the putative translation initiation codon in exon 2, a 93,000-molecular-weight protein could be deduced. This protein resembled very well the putative protein of the human c-fes/fps proto-oncogene (94% overall homology) and, although less well, the putative protein of the chicken c-fes/fps proto-oncogene (70% overall homology). As far as the feline c-fes/fps proto-oncogene sequences transduced to the Gardner-Arnstein (GA) and Snyder-Theilen (ST) strains of feline sarcoma virus (FeSV) are concerned, homology in deduced amino acid sequences between the GA- and ST-v-fes viral oncogenes and the proto-oncogene was 99%. Analysis of the recombination junctions between feline leukemia virus and v-fes sequences in GA- and ST-FeSV proviral DNA revealed for the left-hand junction the involvement of homologous recombination, presumably at the DNA level. The right-hand junction, which appeared identical in the GA-FeSV and ST-FeSV genomes, could have been the result of a site-specific recombination at the RNA level.

Animals↗
PubMed1997

Oncogenic Ki-ras but not oncogenic Ha-ras blocks integrin beta1-chain maturation in colon epithelial cells.

Human colorectal tumors commonly contain mutations in Ki-ras but rarely, if ever, in Ha-ras. The selectivity for Ki-ras mutations in this tumor was explored using the HD6-4 colon epithelial cell line which contains no ras mutations. After adhesion to an extracellular matrix, HD6-4 cells polarize into columnar goblet cells with distinct apical and basal regions. Stable HD6-4 transfectants were made with mini-gene constructs of the oncogenic cellular Ki-ras4BG12V gene, the oncogenic Ha-rasG12V gene, or mini-gene constructs of wild-type Ki-ras4B as a control. Ki-ras mutations, but not Ha-ras mutations, disrupted colon epithelial cell apicobasal polarity and adhesion to collagen I and laminin. Three Ha-ras transfectants and three Ki-ras transfectants exhibited Ras proteins expressing the Val-12 mutation by Western blotting with pan-rasG12V antibody. Only wild-type Ki-ras transfectant cells and oncogenic Ha-ras transfectant cells synthesized the mature, fully glycosylated forms of beta1 integrin. Instead of the mature integrin beta1-chain, a faster migrating beta1-chain intermediate was detected on the cell surface and in the cytoplasm of the oncogenic Ki-ras transfectants. Expression of the oncogenic Ki-ras gene caused the altered beta1 integrin maturation because phosphorothiolated antisense oligonucleotides to Ki-ras reduced expression of both the mutant Ki-Ras protein and the aberrant integrin beta1-chain and increased expression of the mature integrin beta1-chain. Altered glycosylation generated the new beta1 integrin form since integrin core beta1-chain proteins of the same molecular weight were yielded in Ki-ras, Ha-ras, and control transfectants after removal of sugar residues with endoglycosidase F or following tunicamycin treatment to inhibit glycosylation. The selective effect of oncogenic Ki-ras on beta1 integrin glycosylation was not due to selective activation of mitogen-activated protein kinases because both mutated Ki- and Ha-ras genes activated this pathway and increased cell proliferation. Since blocking the glycosylation of integrin beta1-chain inhibited the adherence, polarization, and subsequent differentiation of colon epithelial cells, the selective effects of the oncogenic cellular Ki-ras gene on integrin beta1-chain glycosylation may account, at least in part, for the selection of Ki-ras mutations in human colon tumors.

Calcium-Calmodulin-Dependent Protein Kinases↗
PubMed1988

Differential expression of preproenkephalin and transin mRNAs following oncogenic transformation: evidence for two classes of oncogene induced genes.

FR3T3 rat embryo fibroblast cells express preproenkephalin mRNA after transformation by polyoma virus middle T or Ha-ras oncogenes. This effect was not seen in another rat embryo fibroblast cell line (Rat-1) or in FR3T3 cells transformed by Rous sarcoma virus, bovine papilloma virus type I or SV40. The elevation in preproenkephalin mRNA levels is thus cell specific and oncogene specific. These results contrast with those obtained for transin mRNA, which was observed in both Rat-1 and FR3T3 cells transformed by a number of different oncogenes. The expression of transin RNA correlated with the expression of the transformed phenotype. We suggest that genes induced by oncogenes in a given cell will fall into two classes: those linked to the expression of the transformed phenotype (expression induced by all oncogenes conferring this phenotype) and those induced as a consequence of activation of a specific cellular signaling system (expression induced by a subset of oncogenes linked to the signaling system in question). This system may prove useful in distinguishing oncogene-induced events that are related to cellular transformation from those that are secondary to eliciting the transformed phenotype.

Animals↗
PubMed1997

Ha-ras oncogene-induced transcription of human papillomavirus type 18 E6 and E7 oncogenes.

Human papillomavirus (HPV) DNA sequences are found in most carcinomas originating from the uterine cervix. HPV E6 and E7 oncogenes have been shown to cooperate with ras oncogenes to fully transform human epithelial cells. We investigated the effect of the Ha-ras oncogene on the transcriptional activity of HPV-18 and found that it induced the transcriptional activity of the viral promoter, whereas the normal gene had only a minimal effect. However, transfection of the normal Ha-ras gene and simultaneous inhibition of protein phosphatase sensitive to okadaic acid (OA) resulted in a cooperative transactivation of the viral promoter. When cloned upstream of a minimal promoter, the AP-1 binding sites present in the viral promoter conferred transcriptional responsiveness to Ha-ras and OA. Furthermore, HeLa cell clones permanently expressing the Ha-ras oncogene or high levels of the normal gene exhibited a twofold to threefold increase in E6*E7/E1 and E6*E7 transcripts. We propose that both Ha-ras and a protein phosphatase sensitive to OA regulate HPV oncogene expression through modulation of AP-1 activity and suggest that increased levels of E6 and E7, resulting from activated viral transcription in the presence of ras oncogenes, may in part explain the observed cooperation between these viral and cellular oncogenes in the transformation of human cells.

DNA-Binding Proteins↗
PubMed1990

Oncogenes and anti-oncogenes in tumorigenesis.

Recent advances have led to the identification of cellular genes which are involved in the initiation and progression of tumorigenesis. The proto-oncogenes, which normally participate in the regulation of cell proliferation and differentiation, can become oncogenes through alterations in the regulation of their expression and/or their coding sequences. Their contribution to the tumorigenic phenotype is dominant. The anti-oncogenes or tumor suppressor genes or recessive oncogenes are normally implicated in a negative regulation of cellular proliferation. The loss of their activity contributes to tumorigenesis in a recessive manner. Genetic events activating proto-oncogenes or inactivating anti-oncogenes accumulate in the same cell during tumor progression and co-operate to determine the malignant invasive phenotype of advanced tumors.

Cell Differentiation↗
PubMed1982

Sequence comparison in the crossover region of an oncogenic avian retrovirus recombinant and its nononcogenic parent: genetic regions that control growth rate and oncogenic potential.

NTRE 7 is an avian retrovirus recombinant of the endogenous nononcogenic Rous-associated virus-0 (RAV-0) and the oncogenic, exogenous, transformation-defective (td) Prague strain of Rous sarcoma virus B (td-PrRSV-B). Oligonucleotide mapping had shown that the recombinant virus is indistinguishable from its RAV-0 parent except for the 3'-end sequences, which were derived from td-PrRSV-B. However, the virus exhibits properties which are typical of an exogenous virus: it grows to high titers in tissue culture, and it is oncogenic in vivo. To accurately define the genetic region responsible for these properties, we determined the nucleotide sequences of the recombinant and its RAV-0 parent by using molecular clones of their DNA. These were compared with sequences already available for PrRSV-C, a virus closely related to the exogenous parent td-PrRSV-B. The results suggested that the crossover event which generated NTRE 7 took place in a region -501 to -401 nucleotides from the 3' end of the td-PrRSV parental genome and that sequences to the right of the recombination region were responsible for its growth properties and oncogenic potential. These sequences included a 148-base-pair exogenous-virus-specific region that was absent from the RAV-0 genome and the U3 region of the long terminal repeat. Since the exogenous-virus-specific sequences are expected to be missing from transformation-defective mutants of the Schmidt-Ruppin strain of RSV, which, like other exogenous viruses, grow to high titers in tissue culture and are oncogenic in vivo, we concluded that the growth properties and oncogenic potential of the exogenous viruses are determined by sequences in the U3 region of the long terminal repeat. However, we propose that the exogenous-virus-specific region may play a role in determining the oncogenic spectrum of a given oncogenic virus.

Animals↗