Differential expression of thymidine kinase gene in two subpopulations of a rat tumour correlates with their tumorigenic and cell division potential.
We have studied the expression of the thymidine kinase (TK) gene in two kinetically heterogenous populations of a rat tumour cell line--the Zajdela ascitic hepatoma (ZAH). We have demonstrated that the TK gene is differentially expressed in the two cell types. The more tumorigenic and rapidly dividing subpopulation shows higher levels of mRNA and enzyme activity for TK. In addition, we have shown that the tumorigenic cells accumulate the primary unspliced transcript and utilise only part of it for maturation. It is, therefore, likely that ZAH cells regulate their division and possibly tumorigenic potential by regulating the expression of the TK gene.
Pande
G
G
Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology, Hyderabad, India.
Sudhakar
C
C
D000818:Animals; D002455:Cell Division; D015971:Gene Expression Regulation, Enzymologic; D008114:Liver Neoplasms, Experimental / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology; D008938:Mitosis; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000032:analysis; D012334:RNA, Neoplasm / Q000032:analysis; D051381:Rats; D013937:Thymidine Kinase / Q000235:genetics*
D012333:RNA, Messenger; D012334:RNA, Neoplasm; D013937:Thymidine Kinase