title: PC3 potentiates NGF-induced differentiation and protects neurons from apoptosis.
abstract: PC3TIS21/BTG2 is member of a novel family of antiproliferative genes (BTG1, ANA/BTG3, PC3B, TOB, and TOB2) that play a role in cellular differentiation. We have previously shown that PC3TIS21/BTG2 is induced by nerve growth factor (NGF) at the onset of neuronal differentiation in the neural crest-derived PC12 cell line, and is a marker for neuronal birth. We now observe that PC3TIS21/BTG2 ectopically expressed in PC12 cells synergises with NGF, similarly to the cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor p21, potentiating the induction of the neuronal markers tyrosine hydroxylase and neurofilament 160 kDa. Furthermore, PC3TIS21/BTG2 protects from apoptosis elicited by NGF deprivation in terminally differentiated PC12 cultures. Such effects might be a consequence of the arrest of cell cycle exerted by PC3TIS21/BTG2, or expression of a sensitizing (neurogenic) property of the molecule.
authors.affiliation: Istituto di Neurobiologia, Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, Viale Carlo Marx 15, 00156, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Giuseppina
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Corrente
authors.forename: Daniele
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Guardavaccaro
authors.forename: Felice
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Tirone
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D017781:Genes, Immediate-Early / Q000502:physiology*; D006131:Growth Inhibitors / Q000502:physiology*; D017874:Immediate-Early Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000502:physiology*; D020932:Nerve Growth Factor / Q000494:pharmacology*; D016900:Neurofilament Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis; D009474:Neurons / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D016716:PC12 Cells; D051381:Rats; D025521:Tumor Suppressor Proteins
chemical_list: C521959:BTG2 protein, rat; D006131:Growth Inhibitors; D017874:Immediate-Early Proteins; D016900:Neurofilament Proteins; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents; D025521:Tumor Suppressor Proteins; D020932:Nerve Growth Factor