Alu-associated interstitial deletions and chromosomal re-arrangement in 2 human multidrug-resistant cell lines.
Previous studies have shown that gene re-arrangements play a significant role in tumorigenesis. Gene re-arrangements involving the human multidrug resistance-1 (MDR1) gene have been identified as a mechanism for MDR1 over-expression in human malignant cells. In 2 multidrug-resistant human cancer sublines with high levels of MDR1 and P-glycoprotein (MCF7/TX400 and S48-3s/Adr10), hybrid mRNAs containing sequences from MDR1 and an unrelated gene have previously been identified. To characterize and determine the site of the re-arrangements resulting in generation of hybrid mRNAs, we first constructed a lambda phage library extending over a contiguous genomic region of 100 kb and containing the region upstream of MDR1. In MCF7/TX400 cells, homologous recombination was observed involving an Alu repeat 80 kb upstream of the MDR1 gene, with a 79 bp intra-Alu deletion flanked by chi-like sequences at the re-arrangement junction. By contrast, non-homologous recombination was observed in S48-3s/Adr10 cells with Alu repeats near the junction sequence. While the specific features of the breakpoints appear to be different, Alu repeats might be involved in both gene re-arrangements. The gene re-arrangements at or near the Alu sequence should be regarded as potentially involved in the transcriptional activation of human MDR1.
Harada
T
T
Department of Medical Biochemistry, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kyushu University, Fukuoka, Japan.
Nagayama
J
J
Kohno
K
K
Mickley
L A
LA
Fojo
T
T
Kuwano
M
M
Wada
M
M
D020168:ATP Binding Cassette Transporter, Subfamily B, Member 1 / Q000235:genetics*; D020087:Alu Elements; D001483:Base Sequence; D018432:Drug Resistance, Multiple; D019008:Drug Resistance, Neoplasm; D017353:Gene Deletion; D015321:Gene Rearrangement; D006801:Humans; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D011401:Promoter Regions, Genetic; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured
D020168:ATP Binding Cassette Transporter, Subfamily B, Member 1