Role of the c-myc and the N-myc proto-oncogenes in the immortalization of neural precursors.
To study the role of c-myc and N-myc in the immortalization of neural precursors, we infected neuroepithelial cells isolated from 10-day-old mouse embryos with a new retrovirus vector, pzen, harboring either the c-myc or the N-myc oncogene. The immortalized cell lines contain high levels of the virally expressed myc protein. The amount of myc proteins correlated with the capacity of the cells to differentiate spontaneously in vitro into neurons and glia; cell lines expressing high levels of myc protein can differentiate spontaneously while cell lines expressing low levels of the myc protein resemble epithelial cells. Addition of acidic or basic fibroblast growth factor enhanced differentiation of most cell lines. Some of the cell lines produced neurotrophic growth factors capable of supporting the growth of other cell lines at low density. There was no significant difference between cell lines immortalized with c-myc or with N-myc. Most of the immortalized cells lines generated from bipotential precursors are capable of differentiating into neurons and glia.
Bernard
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O
Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Royal Melbourne Hospital, Victoria, Australia.
Reid
H H
HH
Bartlett
P F
PF
D000818:Animals; D015153:Blotting, Western; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D002455:Cell Division / Q000187:drug effects; D002460:Cell Line; D002999:Clone Cells; D004247:DNA / Q000032:analysis; D005346:Fibroblast Growth Factors / Q000494:pharmacology; D005455:Fluorescent Antibody Technique; D005822:Genetic Vectors; D006133:Growth Substances / Q000494:pharmacology; D051379:Mice; D009420:Nervous System / Q000166:cytology* / Q000196:embryology; D009457:Neuroglia / Q000473:pathology; D009474:Neurons / Q000473:pathology; D011519:Proto-Oncogenes / Q000235:genetics*; D012313:RNA / Q000032:analysis; D012190:Retroviridae / Q000235:genetics; D014162:Transfection
D006133:Growth Substances; D005346:Fibroblast Growth Factors; D012313:RNA; D004247:DNA