title: Overexpression of three ubiquitin genes in mouse epidermal tumors is associated with enhanced cellular proliferation and stress.
abstract: A mouse ubiquitin clone that recognizes multiple transcripts overexpressed in murine tumors compared to normal epidermis was isolated by differential screening of complementary DNA libraries from mouse squamous cell carcinomas. Coding region probes detected five ubiquitin transcripts. Oligonucleotides were designed for unique parts of three mouse ubiquitin gene complementary DNA clones. The overexpressed transcripts at 2.4, 2.8, 6.4, and 7.8 kilobases (kb) were detected by an oligonucleotide specific for a mouse UbC polyubiquitin clone. A 1.2-kb UbB overexpressed transcript was detected by an oligonucleotide for a mouse four-unit polyubiquitin, and a 0.7-kb UbA overexpressed transcript was recognized by an oligonucleotide for the mouse ubiquitin carboxyl-extension protein of 52 amino acids. All three classes of transcripts were induced in mouse skin by the hyperproliferative agent ethylphenyl propionate and by the tumor promoting agent 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13- acetate. Heat shock of cultured keratinocytes induced both the 6.4- and 7.8-kb transcripts recognized by the UbC-specific oligonucleotide. Consistent with the overexpression of the ubiquitin transcripts, the level of free ubiquitin protein, as determined by Western analysis, was elevated in the tumors and proliferating epidermis as compared to normal epidermis. Our results indicate that the overexpression of ubiquitin genes could be related to a sustained state of proliferation and stress in the tumors compared to the normal resting epidermis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Arizona Medical School, Tucson 85724.
authors.forename: J S
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Finch
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: St John
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Krieg
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Bonham
authors.forename: H T
authors.initials: HT
authors.lastname: Smith
authors.forename: V A
authors.initials: VA
authors.lastname: Fried
authors.forename: G T
authors.initials: GT
authors.lastname: Bowden
mesh_terms: D000480:Alkynes / Q000494:pharmacology; D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D001483:Base Sequence; D002455:Cell Division / Q000502:physiology; D015342:DNA Probes; D005260:Female; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D006358:Hot Temperature; D051379:Mice; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics; D012334:RNA, Neoplasm / Q000032:analysis; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D013755:Tetradecanoylphorbol Acetate / Q000494:pharmacology; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured; D014452:Ubiquitins / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: D000480:Alkynes; D015342:DNA Probes; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins; D012334:RNA, Neoplasm; D014452:Ubiquitins; C015202:ethylphenylpropiolate; D013755:Tetradecanoylphorbol Acetate