v-erbA specifically suppresses transcription of the avian erythrocyte anion transporter (band 3) gene.
Previous work has established that the v-erbA oncogene inhibits the temperature-induced differentiation of chick erythroblasts transformed with temperature-sensitive oncogene mutants. Here we demonstrate that v-erbA in differentiating erythroblasts specifically arrests expression of the erythrocyte anion transporter (band 3) gene at the transcriptional level. The v-erbA-induced differentiation block can be overcome by inducing cells to differentiate at alkaline pH. Under these conditions, which possibly impair biological activity of v-erbA, the maturing cells now express the anion transporter gene at high levels. However, its transcription is specifically and rapidly suppressed if v-erbA activity is restored by culturing the cells at neutral pH. Similar but less pronounced inhibition of gene expression by v-erbA was observed for the delta-amino-levulinic acid synthase gene. Additional evidence obtained with an inhibitor of band 3 activity suggests that the v-erbA-induced inhibition of band 3 gene expression is at least partly responsible for the differentiation block caused by this oncogene.
Zenke
M
M
European Molecular Biology Laboratory Differentiation Program, Heidelberg, Federal Republic of Germany.
Kahn
P
P
Disela
C
C
Vennström
B
B
Leutz
A
A
Keegan
K
K
Hayman
M J
MJ
Choi
H R
HR
Yew
N
N
Engel
J D
JD
D000624:5-Aminolevulinate Synthetase / Q000235:genetics; D001355:Alpharetrovirus / Q000235:genetics*; D000818:Animals; D027321:Anion Transport Proteins; D001354:Avian Leukosis Virus / Q000235:genetics*; D002352:Carrier Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D002472:Cell Transformation, Viral; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D002642:Chick Embryo; D002645:Chickens; D002999:Clone Cells; D003470:Culture Media; D003598:Cytoskeletal Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics; D004900:Erythroblasts / Q000378:metabolism / Q000382:microbiology*; D005347:Fibroblasts; D005455:Fluorescent Antibody Technique; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D005914:Globins / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics; D006454:Hemoglobins / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D007118:Immunoassay; D009154:Mutation; D009857:Oncogenes; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000096:biosynthesis; D013049:Spectrin / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics; D013489:Suppression, Genetic; D013696:Temperature; D014158:Transcription, Genetic
D027321:Anion Transport Proteins; D002352:Carrier Proteins; D003470:Culture Media; D003598:Cytoskeletal Proteins; D006454:Hemoglobins; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D013049:Spectrin; D005914:Globins; D000624:5-Aminolevulinate Synthetase