Expression of v-src and chicken c-src in rat cells demonstrates qualitative differences between pp60v-src and pp60c-src.
The retroviral oncogene v-src arose by transduction of the cellular gene c-src. The similarity between these genes raised the possibility that c-src might be able to elicit neoplastic growth. We explored this by constructing a chimeric plasmid that allows the expression of chicken c-src. A rat cell line containing ten times the normal intracellular level of pp60c -src was isolated after transfecting rat-2 cells with the chimeric DNA. These cells produce the protein encoded by c-src ( pp60c -src) in quantities at least three times greater than required to achieve transformation by the product of v-src ( pp60v -src). The cells remain phenotypically normal, contain actin cables, and do not grow in soft agar. However, transfection of the cell line containing elevated cells of pp60c -src or Rat-2 cells with a molecular clone of v-src produces cells that exhibit properties of biologically transformed cells: round morphology, disrupted actin cables, and ability to grow in soft agar.
D000199:Actins / Q000032:analysis; D000818:Animals; D002460:Cell Line; D002645:Chickens; D002678:Chimera; D003001:Cloning, Molecular; D005814:Genes, Viral; D015688:Oncogene Protein pp60(v-src); D009857:Oncogenes; D010641:Phenotype; D010957:Plasmids; D011494:Protein Kinases / Q000235:genetics*; D051381:Rats; D013045:Species Specificity; D013329:Structure-Activity Relationship; D014161:Transduction, Genetic; D014764:Viral Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism
D000199:Actins; D014764:Viral Proteins; D011494:Protein Kinases; D015688:Oncogene Protein pp60(v-src)