Co-expression of specific acid and basic cytokeratins in teratocarcinoma-derived fibroblasts treated with 5-azacytidine.
Epithelial cells always co-express acidic and basic keratin polypeptides. Mesenchymal cells, which do not normally contain keratins, can be induced by the inhibitor of DNA methylation 5-azacytidine to synthesize the basic keratin Endo A. In the present paper we show that the acidic keratins Endo B and Endo C can also be induced by 5-azacytidine in teratocarcinoma-derived fibroblasts. Furthermore, individual cells in which Endo B and/or Endo C keratins are found, always co-express the basic polypeptide Endo A. Other cytokeratins are not or very rarely found. Interestingly, Endo A, B, and C are usually associated in vivo and are known to be the first keratin polypeptides appearing during the development of the mouse embryo.
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D000818:Animals; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D001374:Azacitidine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002460:Cell Line; D004591:Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel; D005347:Fibroblasts / Q000032:analysis / Q000187:drug effects; D005455:Fluorescent Antibody Technique; D007633:Keratins / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D013724:Teratoma / Q000032:analysis*
D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D007633:Keratins; D001374:Azacitidine