title: Overexpression of autocrine motility factor receptor (AMFR) in NIH3T3 fibroblasts induces cell transformation.
abstract: Autocrine motility factor receptor (AMFR) is a cell surface glycoprotein of 78000 molecular weight (gp78), regulating cell motility signaling in vitro and metastasis in vivo. To test whether AMFR could be a common mediator of transformation and oncogenic itself, we transfected NIH3T3 fibroblast cells with expression vectors carrying the full-length cDNA for mouse AMFR and evaluated the effects of increased AMFR on transforming potential. The cells stably expressing high levels of AMFR as a result of transfection displayed a complete morphological change and acquired the ability to grow even in low serum. Furthermore, they were anchorage-independent for growth in soft agar and more motile in phagokinetic track assay. Interestingly, the enhanced expression of AMFR produced tumors in nude mice. Our findings provide a direct evidence that overexpression of the AMFR is associated with the acquisition of a transformation phenotype.
authors.affiliation: Tumor Progression and Metastasis Program, Karmanos Cancer Institute, Detroit, Michigan 48201, USA
authors.forename: Yasuharu
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Onishi
authors.forename: Kazuhiro
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Tsukada
authors.forename: Jun
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Yokota
authors.forename: Avraham
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Raz
mesh_terms: D016475:3T3 Cells; D000818:Animals; D002455:Cell Division; D002465:Cell Movement; D002471:Cell Transformation, Neoplastic; D005260:Female; D005347:Fibroblasts / Q000378:metabolism; D051379:Mice; D008819:Mice, Nude; D009368:Neoplasm Transplantation; D009374:Neoplasms, Experimental / Q000209:etiology; D060285:Receptors, Autocrine Motility Factor; D018121:Receptors, Cytokine / Q000378:metabolism*; D013997:Time Factors; D014162:Transfection; D044767:Ubiquitin-Protein Ligases
chemical_list: D018121:Receptors, Cytokine; C555002:Amfr protein, mouse; D060285:Receptors, Autocrine Motility Factor; D044767:Ubiquitin-Protein Ligases