title: Farnesyltransferase inhibition causes morphological reversion of ras-transformed cells by a complex mechanism that involves regulation of the actin cytoskeleton.
abstract: A potent and specific small molecule inhibitor of farnesyl-protein transferase, L-739,749, caused rapid morphological reversion and growth inhibition of ras-transformed fibroblasts (Rat1/ras cells). Morphological reversion occurred within 18 h of L-739,749 addition. The reverted phenotype was stable for several days in the absence of inhibitor before the transformed phenotype reappeared. Cell enlargement and actin stress fiber formation accompanied treatment of both Rat1/ras and normal Rat1 cells. Significantly, inhibition of Ras processing did not correlate with the initiation or maintenance of the reverted phenotype. While a single treatment with L-739,749 was sufficient to morphologically revert Rat1/ras cells, repetitive inhibitor treatment was required to significantly reduce cell growth rate. Thus, the effects of L-739,749 on transformed cell morphology and cytoskeletal actin organization could be separated from effects on cell growth, depending on whether exposure to a farnesyl-protein transferase inhibitor was transient or repetitive. In contrast, L-739,749 had no effect on the growth, morphology, or actin organization of v-raf-transformed cells. Taken together, the results suggest that the mechanism of morphological reversion is complex and may involve farnesylated proteins that control the organization of cytoskeletal actin.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cancer Research, Merck Research Laboratories, West Point, Pennsylvania 19486.
authors.forename: G C
authors.initials: GC
authors.lastname: Prendergast
authors.forename: J P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Davide
authors.forename: S J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: deSolms
authors.forename: E A
authors.initials: EA
authors.lastname: Giuliani
authors.forename: S L
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Graham
authors.forename: J B
authors.initials: JB
authors.lastname: Gibbs
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Oliff
authors.forename: N E
authors.initials: NE
authors.lastname: Kohl
mesh_terms: D000199:Actins / Q000378:metabolism*; D019883:Alkyl and Aryl Transferases; D000818:Animals; D015153:Blotting, Western; D002455:Cell Division / Q000187:drug effects; D002460:Cell Line; D002471:Cell Transformation, Neoplastic; D003599:Cytoskeleton / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D004591:Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel; D051231:Farnesyltranstransferase; D011905:Genes, ras; D007700:Kinetics; D009842:Oligopeptides / Q000494:pharmacology*; D027384:Oncogene Proteins v-raf; D009857:Oncogenes; D011505:Protein-Tyrosine Kinases / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics; D051381:Rats; D015682:Retroviridae Proteins, Oncogenic / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics; D014166:Transferases / Q000032:analysis / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors* / Q000302:isolation & purification
chemical_list: D000199:Actins; D009842:Oligopeptides; D015682:Retroviridae Proteins, Oncogenic; C087363:L 739749; D014166:Transferases; D019883:Alkyl and Aryl Transferases; D051231:Farnesyltranstransferase; D011505:Protein-Tyrosine Kinases; D027384:Oncogene Proteins v-raf