Activation of the transformation potential of the cellular fps gene.
Chicken cellular-fps (c-fps) sequences were substituted for viral-fps (v-fps) sequences in two retroviral genome structures, one that expressed a c-fps gene product that was indistinguishable from the normal c-fps gene product expressed in chicken bone marrow cells, and another that expressed a gag-fps fusion protein. When c-fps gene sequences (without linked gag gene sequences) were expressed at high levels in a viral vector, no transformation of fibroblasts was detected. It was previously demonstrated that the corresponding v-fps sequences could transform fibroblasts. When the same c-fps sequences were expressed in a form linked to gag gene sequences, transformation of fibroblasts and induction of tumors were observed. The data suggest that the c-fps gene product lacks transformation potential by itself even when overexpressed and that the transformation potential of the c-fps gene can be activated by either mutation (or mutations) in the fps coding region or by fusion with viral gag gene sequences.
Foster
D A
DA
Shibuya
M
M
Hanafusa
H
H
D000818:Animals; D001358:Avian Sarcoma Viruses / Q000235:genetics; D001483:Base Sequence; D002471:Cell Transformation, Neoplastic; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D002642:Chick Embryo; D002645:Chickens; D005347:Fibroblasts; D015683:Gene Products, gag; D005814:Genes, Viral; D009154:Mutation; D009857:Oncogenes; D014162:Transfection; D014764:Viral Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology
D015683:Gene Products, gag; D014764:Viral Proteins