Expression of a single transfected cDNA converts fibroblasts to myoblasts.
5-azacytidine treatment of mouse C3H10T1/2 embryonic fibroblasts converts them to myoblasts at a frequency suggesting alteration of one or only a few closely linked regulatory loci. Assuming such loci to be differentially expressed as poly(A)+ RNA in proliferating myoblasts, we prepared proliferating myoblast-specific, subtracted cDNA probes to screen a myocyte cDNA library. Based on a number of criteria, three cDNAs were selected and characterized. We show that expression of one of these cDNAs transfected into C3H10T1/2 fibroblasts, where it is not normally expressed, is sufficient to convert them to stable myoblasts. Myogenesis also occurs, but to a lesser extent, when this cDNA is expressed in a number of other cell lines. The major open reading frame encoded by this cDNA contains a short protein segment similar to a sequence present in the myc protein family.
Department of Genetics, Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, Washington 98104.
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Davis
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Weintraub
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Lassar
D000818:Animals; D001483:Base Sequence; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D002460:Cell Line; D004247:DNA / Q000235:genetics*; D005347:Fibroblasts / Q000166:cytology*; D005796:Genes; D051379:Mice; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009124:Muscle Proteins; D009132:Muscles / Q000166:cytology*; D014162:Transfection
D009124:Muscle Proteins; D004247:DNA