Targeted disruption of the 3p12 gene, Dutt1/Robo1, predisposes mice to lung adenocarcinomas and lymphomas with methylation of the gene promoter.
The DUTT1 gene is located on human chromosome 3, band p12, within a region of nested homozygous deletions in breast and lung tumors. It is therefore a candidate tumor suppressor gene in humans and is the homologue (ROBO1) of the Drosophila axonal guidance receptor gene, Roundabout. We have shown previously that mice with a targeted homozygous deletion within the Dutt1/Robo1 gene generally die at birth due to incomplete lung development: survivors die within the first year of life with epithelial bronchial hyperplasia as a common feature. Because Dutt1/Robo1 heterozygous mice develop normally, we have determined their tumor susceptibility. Mice with a targeted deletion within one Dutt1/Robo1 allele spontaneously develop lymphomas and carcinomas in their second year of life with a 3-fold increase in incidence compared with controls: invasive lung adenocarcinomas are by far the predominant carcinoma. In addition to the mutant allele, loss of heterozygosity analysis indicates that these tumors retain the structurally normal allele but with substantial methylation of the gene's promoter. Substantial reduction of Dutt1/Robo1 protein expression in tumors is observed by Western blotting and immunohistochemistry. This suggests that Dutt1/Robo1 is a classic tumor suppressor gene requiring inactivation of both alleles to elicit tumorigenesis in these mice.
Xian
Jian
J
Department of Oncology, University of Cambridge, Medical Research Council Centre, Cambridge, United Kingdom.
Aitchison
Alan
A
Bobrow
Linda
L
Corbett
Gerard
G
Pannell
Richard
R
Rabbitts
Terence
T
Rabbitts
Pamela
P
D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000235:genetics*; D000483:Alleles; D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D001483:Base Sequence; D002875:Chromosomes; D019175:DNA Methylation; D017353:Gene Deletion; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; D020868:Gene Silencing; D016147:Genes, Tumor Suppressor; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics*; D008223:Lymphoma / Q000235:genetics*; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins; D011401:Promoter Regions, Genetic; D011971:Receptors, Immunologic; D025521:Tumor Suppressor Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D000097905:Roundabout Proteins
D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins; D011971:Receptors, Immunologic; D025521:Tumor Suppressor Proteins; D000097905:Roundabout Proteins