Loss of c-kit expression in cultured melanoma cells.
The proto-oncogene c-kit encodes a receptor tyrosine kinase which has been shown to play a key role in melanocyte development. In this report we asked whether the c-kit gene product is also involved in promoting the growth of transformed melanocytes. We found that, while c-Kit protein was readily observed in normal human neonatal and adult melanocytes, the majority of cell lines established from human melanoma samples did not express detectable levels of c-kit mRNA or protein. A similar pattern of differential expression was also observed in normal and transformed murine melanocytes. Our findings raise the possibility that a marked reduction in c-kit gene expression either promotes or is a consequence of transformation in melanocytes.
Division of Medical Oncology, University of Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
N
N
Lassam
S
S
Bickford
D015139:Blotting, Southern; D004273:DNA, Neoplasm / Q000032:analysis / Q000235:genetics; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; D006801:Humans; D008544:Melanocytes / Q000378:metabolism*; D008545:Melanoma / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D000090063:Proto-Oncogene Mas; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D019009:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-kit; D011519:Proto-Oncogenes; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000032:analysis*; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured
D004273:DNA, Neoplasm; C000715470:MAS1 protein, human; D000090063:Proto-Oncogene Mas; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D019009:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-kit