The translocated c-myc oncogene of Raji Burkitt lymphoma cells is not expressed in human lymphoblastoid cells.
We hybridized Raji Burkitt lymphoma cells, which carry a t(8;14) chromosome translocation, with human lymphoblastoid cells to study the expression of the translocated cellular myc oncogene (c-myc) in the hybrid cells. In Raji cells the c-myc oncogene is translocated to a switch region of the gamma heavy chain locus (S gamma). Because of sequence alterations in the 5' exon of the translocated c-myc oncogene in this cell line, it is possible to distinguish the transcripts of the translocated c-myc gene and of the normal c-myc gene. S1 nuclease protection experiments with a c-myc first exon probe indicate that Raji cells express predominantly the translocated c-myc gene, while the level of expression of the normal c-myc gene is less than 2% of that of the translocated c-myc gene. Somatic cell hybrids between Raji and human lymphoblastoid cells retain the lymphoblastoid phenotype and express only the normal c-myc oncogene. This result indicates that the activation of a c-myc oncogene translocated to a S region depends on the stage of B-cell differentiation of the cells harboring the translocated c-myc gene and not on alterations in the structure of the translocated c-myc oncogene.
D001483:Base Sequence; D002051:Burkitt Lymphoma / Q000235:genetics*; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D002460:Cell Line; D002901:Chromosomes, Human, 13-15; D002906:Chromosomes, Human, 6-12 and X; D004273:DNA, Neoplasm / Q000235:genetics; D006801:Humans; D006822:Hybrid Cells / Q000378:metabolism; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000378:metabolism; D009857:Oncogenes; D014158:Transcription, Genetic; D014178:Translocation, Genetic
D004273:DNA, Neoplasm