title: Genes for collagen types I, IV, and V are transcribed in HeLa cells but a postinitiation block prevents the accumulation of type I mRNA.
abstract: Collagen mRNA synthesis in HeLa cells was evaluated by in vitro transcription of type I collagen DNA, nuclear run-on studies, and steady-state mRNA analysis. Type I collagen mRNA was accurately initiated by HeLa cell RNA polymerase II in nuclear extracts, and run-on analysis indicted that mRNAs for collagen types alpha 1(I), alpha 2(I), alpha 1(III), alpha 1(IV), and alpha 2(V) were synthesized in HeLa cells. However, on assessing the steady-state levels of mRNAs of collagen types alpha 1(I), alpha 2(I), alpha 1(IV), and alpha 2(V), no type I mRNA was found in HeLa cells while types alpha 1(IV) and alpha 2(V) collagen mRNAs were observed. These results suggest that a postinitiation process prevents the accumulation of type I collagen mRNAs in HeLa cells. Persistence of types IV and V collagen mRNAs is consistent with the involvement of types IV and V collagen in adhesion of HeLa cells to glass or plastic.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, Philadelphia 19104-6082.
authors.forename: J J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Furth
authors.forename: T H
authors.initials: TH
authors.lastname: Wroth
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ackerman
mesh_terms: D002467:Cell Nucleus / Q000378:metabolism; D002474:Cell-Free System; D003094:Collagen / Q000235:genetics*; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D006367:HeLa Cells; D006801:Humans; D012319:RNA Polymerase II / Q000502:physiology; D012323:RNA Processing, Post-Transcriptional; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism*; D014158:Transcription, Genetic / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D012333:RNA, Messenger; D003094:Collagen; D012319:RNA Polymerase II