title: Expression of the neomycin-resistance (neo) gene induces alterations in gene expression and metabolism.
abstract: The amino 3'-glycosyl phosphotransferase (neo) gene is the selectable marker most widely used in stable transfection or infection protocols. Because the neo gene product has phosphotransferase activity, it might modify the phosphorylation state when introduced in mammalian cells. NIH-3T3 fibroblast cells expressing the neo gene, after either infection with retroviral vectors or transfection with plasmids, showed a 50% reduction in both fructose 2,6-bisphosphate (Fru 2,6-P2) concentration and lactate production compared with control NIH-3T3 cells, indicating that these neo-expressing cells are less glycolytic. In addition, a marked decrease in the levels of mRNA for the procollagen 1 alpha and fibronectin genes was also observed in neo-expressing NIH-3T3 cells. This decrease was concomitant with an increase in the mRNA concentration of the endogenous c-myc gene. FTO-2B rat hepatoma cells also showed modifications in gene expression when the neo gene was introduced by stable transfection or infection. In these cells an increase in both P-enolpyruvate carboxykinase (PEPCK) and tyrosine aminotransferase (TAT) mRNA was observed. These results suggest that neo gene expression may induce changes in the cells, which should be considered when neo-selected cells are used to deliver specific genes in different therapy approaches and in embryo manipulation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry, School of Veterinary Medicine, Autonomous University of Barcelona, Bellaterra, Spain.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Valera
authors.forename: J C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Perales
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hatzoglou
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Bosch
mesh_terms: D016475:3T3 Cells / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D005353:Fibronectins / Q000096:biosynthesis; D005635:Fructosediphosphates / Q000378:metabolism; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D016259:Genes, myc; D006019:Glycolysis; D019868:Kanamycin Kinase; D008114:Liver Neoplasms, Experimental; D051379:Mice; D010729:Phosphoenolpyruvate Carboxykinase (GTP) / Q000096:biosynthesis; D010766:Phosphorylation; D017853:Phosphotransferases (Alcohol Group Acceptor) / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D011347:Procollagen / Q000096:biosynthesis; D011499:Protein Processing, Post-Translational; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D014162:Transfection; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured; D014444:Tyrosine Transaminase / Q000096:biosynthesis
chemical_list: D005353:Fibronectins; D005635:Fructosediphosphates; D011347:Procollagen; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins; C027652:fructose 2,6-diphosphate; D014444:Tyrosine Transaminase; D017853:Phosphotransferases (Alcohol Group Acceptor); D019868:Kanamycin Kinase; D010729:Phosphoenolpyruvate Carboxykinase (GTP)