Expression of cripto, a novel gene of the epidermal growth factor gene family, leads to in vitro transformation of a normal mouse mammary epithelial cell line.
cripto is a gene encoding an epidermal growth factor-related protein that is expressed in undifferentiated embryonal carcinoma cells. To ascertain if cripto is capable of functioning as a transforming gene, a full-length human cripto complementary DNA under the transcriptional control of the Rous sarcoma virus long terminal repeat has been cotransfected with the selectable pSV2neo marker plasmid into immortalized mouse NOG-8 mammary epithelial cells. Several neomycin-resistant clones were isolated that express high levels of a specific cripto 4.5-kilobase mRNA transcript and possess multiple copies of cripto plasmid DNA. NOG-8 cells that express cripto are able to clone in soft agar and exhibit an approximately 3-fold increase in their anchorage-dependent growth in serum-free medium as compared to the neo-transfected NOG-8 cells. However, none of the cripto-expressing NOG-8 clones are able to form tumors in nude mice.
Ciardiello
F
F
Laboratory of Tumor Immunology and Biology, National Cancer Institute, NIH, Bethesda, Maryland 20892.
Dono
R
R
Kim
N
N
Persico
M G
MG
Salomon
D S
DS
D000818:Animals; D001358:Avian Sarcoma Viruses / Q000235:genetics*; D004815:Epidermal Growth Factor / Q000235:genetics*; D005347:Fibroblasts / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D008321:Mammary Glands, Animal / Q000473:pathology; D051379:Mice; D014158:Transcription, Genetic; D014162:Transfection
D004815:Epidermal Growth Factor