Expression of proto-oncogenes in embryonic, adult, and transformed tissue of Xiphophorus (Teleostei: Poeciliidae).
In Xiphophorus the causative, primary cellular oncogene for melanoma formation has been assigned by classical genetics to a sex-chromosomal locus, designated Tu. Activation of Tu was proposed to be the result of the elimination of Tu-specific regulatory genes which normally suppress the transforming function in the non-tumorous state. In order to understand the role which known proto-oncogenes might play in this process, we have analysed the expression of src, erb A, erb B, ras, abl, sis and mil related genes from Xiphophorus during embryogenesis, in non-tumorous organs and in melanoma cells. For src, ras, erb B and sis a differential expression during embryogenesis and/or in normal organs was detected, with preferential expression of src in neural tissues, a high abundance of sis transcripts in an embryonal epitheloid cell line and of erbB transcripts in the head nephros. In melanoma cells ras, src and a v-erb B related gene were found to be expressed. The src gene most likely is more involved in secondary processes during tumor progression, while the expression of the v-erb B related gene might be transformation-specific because recently such a sequence was found to map to the close vicinity of the Tu-locus.
Mäueler
W
W
Max-Planck-Institut für Biochemie, Martinsried bei München, Federal Republic of Germany.
Raulf
F
F
Schartl
M
M
D000818:Animals; D005393:Fish Diseases / Q000235:genetics*; D005399:Fishes / Q000235:genetics* / Q000254:growth & development; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D008545:Melanoma / Q000235:genetics / Q000662:veterinary*; D014176:Protein Biosynthesis; D011519:Proto-Oncogenes; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics; D012334:RNA, Neoplasm / Q000235:genetics; D014018:Tissue Distribution; D014158:Transcription, Genetic
D012333:RNA, Messenger; D012334:RNA, Neoplasm