title: ERas oncogene expression and epigenetic regulation by histone acetylation in human cancer cells.
abstract: The ERas oncogene is a recently identified gene that supports the tumorigenic growth of embryonic stem (ES) cells by producing a constitutively active Ras protein. However the expression of ERas in cancer cells remains unclear. In this study, ERas mRNA expression was examined in 20 human cancer cell lines and 5 normal cell lines. ERas mRNA was found in 4 out of 7 colorectal carcinomas, 2 out of 6 pancreatic carcinomas, 1 out of 3 breast carcinomas, none in the esophageal carcinomas and none in the normal cells. Histone deacetylase inhibitor treatment resulted in ERas expression in 1 out of 3 colorectal carcinomas, 2 out of 2 breast carcinomas and 3 out of 3 normal cell lines. These findings suggested that the ERas oncogene might be associated with the development of human carcinomas. Up-regulation of ERas by histone acetylation might be one of the mechanisms reversing/overcoming the epigenetic transcriptional silencing of the ERas oncogenes.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgical Oncology, Osaka City University Graduate School of Medicine, 1-4-3 Asahi-machi, Abeno-ku, Osaka 545-8585, Japan.
authors.forename: Koichi
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Yasuda
authors.forename: Masakazu
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Yashiro
authors.forename: Tetsuji
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Sawada
authors.forename: Masaichi
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ohira
authors.forename: Kosei
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Hirakawa
mesh_terms: D000107:Acetylation; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology; D044127:Epigenesis, Genetic; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; D020868:Gene Silencing; D011905:Genes, ras; D006657:Histones / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D006877:Hydroxamic Acids / Q000494:pharmacology; D009154:Mutation; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D015689:Oncogene Protein p21(ras) / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics; D014158:Transcription, Genetic
chemical_list: C474774:ERas protein, human; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors; D006657:Histones; D006877:Hydroxamic Acids; D012333:RNA, Messenger; C012589:trichostatin A; D015689:Oncogene Protein p21(ras)