c-ets-2 protooncogene has mitogenic and oncogenic activity.
An expression vector containing the murine c-ets-2 protooncogene cDNA was introduced into NIH 3T3 cells by DNA transfection. The cells transfected with this construct showed foci of densely growing, morphologically altered cells, when grown either in low-serum (0.05%) or in serum-free medium. The c-ets-2-derived foci contained additional copies of the c-ets-2 gene, Northern blot analysis demonstrated overexpression of a c-ets-2-specific 2.5-kilobase RNA, and ets-specific antiserum recognized a 56-kDa protein. Overexpression of the c-ets-2-encoded protein stimulated cell proliferation and abolished their serum requirement. The c-ets-2 transfected cells formed colonies in semisolid medium and induced tumors in nude mice, indicating that c-ets-2 can be a transforming gene when overexpressed in these cells. This work demonstrates that a member of the c-ets gene family has transforming and mitogenic activity. In addition, the role of c-ets-2 in cell proliferation and its location in the minimal Down syndrome region on chromosome 21 implicates its involvement in the phenotypic changes associated with Down syndrome.
Seth
A
A
Laboratory of Molecular Oncology, National Cancer Institute, Frederick, MD 21701-1013.
Watson
D K
DK
Blair
D G
DG
Papas
T S
TS
D000818:Animals; D015152:Blotting, Northern; D015139:Blotting, Southern; D002455:Cell Division; D002471:Cell Transformation, Neoplastic; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D005822:Genetic Vectors; D006801:Humans; D051379:Mice; D011519:Proto-Oncogenes / Q000502:physiology; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics; D015183:Restriction Mapping; D014158:Transcription, Genetic; D014162:Transfection
D012333:RNA, Messenger