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G Liau

Publications and source records attributed to G Liau.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed1993

Identification of a novel serum and growth factor-inducible gene in vascular smooth muscle cells.

We have used subtraction cloning to isolate a cDNA (PS4) that identified a serum-inducible mRNA of 1.9 kilobases in rabbit vascular smooth muscle cells. DNA sequence analysis revealed one major open reading frame encoding a 9,442 M(r) protein. Comparison of the DNA as well as the putative protein sequence with various data bases revealed no homology with other sequences. In vitro translation of synthesized PS4 mRNA generated a major polypeptide of 12 kDa. Serum stimulation of quiescent smooth muscle cells in culture induced a rapid increase in the level of PS4 mRNA. Expression of this message was detected by 1 h, peaked at approximately 4 h, and became undetectable by 12 h. The induction of PS4 by serum was completely blocked by cycloheximide, indicating its expression required prior protein synthesis. Epidermal growth factor, acidic fibroblast growth factor, and transforming growth factor-beta 1 also induced a strong increase in PS4 expression. By contrast, platelet-derived growth factor-BB was only able to mildly stimulate the level of PS4 mRNA and insulin-like growth factor-I was unable to enhance PS4 expression. There was a high level of PS4 mRNA in rabbit fetal muscle, esophagus, kidney, and lung, a low level in fetal aorta and heart, and an undetectable level in fetal liver, brain, as well as, in the placenta. The expression of PS4 in the corresponding adult tissues was low or undetectable. Our analysis indicate that PS4 expression is developmentally regulated and tightly controlled by growth factors, suggesting this novel gene has a role in cell growth and differentiation.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1993

Altered protein secretion and extracellular matrix deposition is associated with the proliferative phenotype induced by allylamine in aortic smooth muscle cells.

Repeated cycles of allylamine-induced aortic injury in vivo modulate the proliferative potential of smooth muscle cells (SMCs) during serial propagation in vitro. This modulation may be partly mediated by disturbances in polyphosphoinositide metabolism which afford allylamine-treated cells a growth advantage over control cells [Cox, Murphy and Ramos (1990) Exp. Mol. Pathol. 53, 52-63]. The present studies were conducted to further evaluate the mechanisms which mediate the enhanced proliferative potential of allylamine cells. Cellular growth and/or [3H]thymidine incorporation into DNA were evaluated in control and allylamine cells seeded on plastic culture dishes or glass coverslips in the presence of 0.1, 1 or 10% fetal bovine serum (FBS). On either substrate, incubation in 0.1% FBS for 48 h inhibited DNA synthesis in cultures of both cell types, but the inhibitory response was more pronounced in allylamine cells. Subsequent challenge with 10% FBS increased thymidine incorporation to a greater extent in allylamine cells. Interestingly, enhanced DNA synthesis of allylamine cells was associated with increased cell numbers only when seeded on a glass surface. The enhanced growth rate on glass was not due to increased plating efficiency since comparable attachment rates were observed for both cell types. Reseeding of control cells on glass substrates pre-coated by allylamine cells afforded control cells a growth advantage comparable with that observed for allylamine cultures. Conditioned media from growth-arrested, as well as cycling cultures, of allylamine cells stimulated DNA synthesis in cultures of either cell type to a greater extent than conditioned media from control counterparts. In addition, the responsiveness of allylamine cells to secreted products was enhanced relative to that of control cells. Metabolic labelling studies revealed that the synthesis and/or secretion of 52, 46, 33 and 28 kDa proteins was enhanced in allylamine cultures relative to controls, and that the expression of two proteins of 30 and 31 kDa only occurred in allylamine cultures. We conclude that the enhanced growth response of allylamine cells is associated with both altered protein secretion and differential extracellular matrix deposition.

Allylamine↗
PubMed1993

Elevated expression of basic fibroblast growth factor in an immortalized rabbit smooth muscle cell line.

Intimal smooth muscle cell accumulation is regarded as an important component of atherosclerotic plaque formation, angioplasty-induced restenosis, and vascular graft occlusion. Vascular smooth muscle cells can both express and respond to acidic fibroblast growth factor (aFGF) and basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF); therefore, under certain conditions these polypeptides may regulate smooth muscle cell growth in an autocrine manner. Previous studies using smooth muscle cells cultured in vitro have identified factors that can enhance aFGF and bFGF gene expression. In this study, we assayed fibroblast growth factor gene expression in a spontaneously immortalized rabbit smooth muscle cell line. In contrast to "normal" rabbit smooth muscle cells, these immortalized cells acquire an altered morphology and enhanced proliferative rate during; cell passaging in vitro. Both "normal" and immortalized rabbit smooth muscle cells express bFGF but not aFGF transcripts. RNA gel blot hybridization, reverse transcription/polymerase chain reaction amplification, and Western blotting techniques demonstrate that bFGF expression in the immortalized smooth muscle cell line increases as a function of passage level. This continuous cell line should prove valuable for studying both the regulation of bFGF synthesis and the control of vascular smooth muscle cell proliferation.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1992

Transforming growth factor beta 1 is a powerful modulator of platelet-derived growth factor action in vascular smooth muscle cells.

We have studied the effect of transforming growth factor beta 1 (TGF-beta 1) on vascular smooth muscle cell (SMC) mitogenesis and expression of thrombospondin and other growth related genes. We found that TGF-beta 1 treatment of vascular SMC induced a prolonged increase in steady-state mRNA levels of thrombospondin as well as alpha 1 (IV) collagen. The increase began at approximately 2 h, peaked by 24 h, and remained considerably elevated 48 h after growth factor addition. There was a corresponding increase in thrombospondin protein as well as increased expression of several other secreted polypeptides. The increase in thrombospondin contrasted sharply with that observed for platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) which induced a rapid and transient increase in thrombospondin mRNA level. Although TGF-beta 1 was able to directly enhance expression of thrombospondin as well as the growth-related genes c-fos and c-myc, and induced c-fos expression with identical kinetics as PDGF, it was unable to elicit [3H]thymidine incorporation into DNA in three independent smooth muscle cell strains. However, TGF-beta 1 was able to strongly increase the mitogenic response of SMC to PDGF. Addition of both TGF-beta 1 and PDGF to SMC also caused a synergistic increase in the expression of thrombospondin as well as c-myc. Interestingly, in one other smooth muscle cell strain, a weak and delayed mitogenic response to TGF-beta 1 alone was observed. Our results strongly suggest that induction of thrombospondin expression by TGF-beta 1 and by PDGF occurs by distinct mechanisms. In addition, that TGF-beta 1 can enhance PDGF-induced mitogenesis may be due to the ability of TGF-beta 1 to directly induce the expression of thrombospondin, c-fos, c-myc, and the PDGF beta-receptor.

Animals↗
PubMed1992

Regulation of vascular smooth muscle cell integrin expression by transforming growth factor beta1 and by platelet-derived growth factor-BB.

We have examined the ability of transforming growth factor-beta 1 (TGF-beta 1) and platelet-derived growth factor-BB (PDGF-BB) to regulate the expression of various integrins in cultured rabbit vascular smooth muscle cells (SMC). We found that expression of the alpha v beta 3 integrin complex was induced by both growth factors, although TGF-beta 1 appeared to be the more potent inducer. mRNA level of the beta 3 integrin subunit was undetectable in quiescent cells and enhanced by both growth factors, while the alpha v integrin subunit mRNA level did not change with growth factor addition. Therefore, appearance of the alpha v beta 3 integrin protein complex after growth factor stimulation was due to increased expression of the beta 3 integrin subunit mRNA. The TGF-beta 1 induced increase in beta 3 integrin mRNA was delayed, but did not require prior protein synthesis, since cycloheximide was unable to block the increase in beta 3 mRNA level. By contrast, PDGF-BB induced a more rapid increase in beta 3 integrin mRNA level that peaked by 6 h after growth factor addition and no detectable beta 3 integrin mRNA remained after 24 h. Interestingly, the PDGF-BB induced elevation of beta 3 integrin, although more rapid, was completely inhibited by cycloheximide. Expression of the alpha 5 integrin subunit in response to growth factors was very similar to beta 3. However, in contrast to beta 3 and alpha 5, neither TGF-beta 1 nor PDGF-BB were able to alter the expression of the beta 1 integrin subunit in vascular SMC. However, in TGF-beta 1 treated cells, there was a large increase in expression of a 190 kDa polypeptide that was associated with the beta 1 integrin subunit. This 190 kDa polypeptide was not detected in PDGF treated SMC or in TGF-beta 1 treated fibroblasts. The alpha 1 integrin subunit has a MW of approximately 190 kDa and is capable of complexing with beta 1. Analysis of the alpha 1 integrin subunit mRNA level indicated that it was indeed induced by TGF-beta 1, but not by PDGF-BB, suggesting that the 190 kDa polypeptide may be the alpha 1 integrin subunit. These results indicate that TGF-beta 1 and PDGF-BB are potent but distinct activators of integrin expression in vascular SMC.

Animals↗
PubMed1992

Identification and characterization of developmentally regulated genes in vascular smooth muscle cells.

We wish to understand the process of smooth muscle cell (SMC) proliferation and maturation during late fetal development and have examined some of the molecular changes associated with blood vessel maturation in late gestational and early neonatal life. By differential screening of a fetal aortic smooth muscle cDNA library, we identified a gene (F-31) that was developmentally regulated in aortic smooth muscle. The F-31 gene encodes a 2.3-kb RNA that was highly expressed in fetal aortic smooth muscle (25-day gestation), was lower in newborns, and was undetectable in the aortic smooth muscle of 4-week-old animals. F-31 was also highly expressed in fetal muscle, esophagus, heart, liver, lung, and placenta; its expression was lower in skin, kidney, and brain. By contrast, the expression of F-31 was low or undetectable in the corresponding tissue of adult animals. DNA sequence analysis of cDNAs encoding F-31 and data base comparison revealed a 73% homology with a previously identified, developmentally regulated gene called H19. We also found that insulin-like growth factor II (IGF-II) expression was developmentally regulated in smooth muscle. However, unlike F-31, expression of IGF-II was undetectable in the aortic smooth muscle of newborn animals. Analysis of the mRNA level of several genes that encode cytoskeletal proteins in neonatal, newborn, and adult smooth muscle indicates that total actin mRNA level, alpha-smooth muscle actin, and alpha-tropomyosin mRNA levels were similar between the late gestational period and 4 weeks after birth.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1991

Increased ferritin gene expression is both promoted by cAMP and a marker of growth arrest in rabbit vascular smooth muscle cells.

To facilitate an understanding of the molecular events associated with vascular smooth muscle cells (SMC) growth arrest and differentiation, we have isolated a number of cDNAs encoding mRNAs that are more abundantly expressed in high density growth-arrested SMC. From 40,000 recombinant plaques, we identified 6 cDNA clones which encoded genes more highly expressed in density-arrested SMC. DNA sequence analysis of a cDNA clone which hybridized to a 5.5-kilobase mRNA revealed a 96% sequence homology to the carboxyl-terminal propeptide region of the human alpha 2(I) collagen gene. Sequence analysis of 3 other cDNA clones which all recognized a 1-kilobase mRNA, indicated that they encode the ferritin H-chain subunit gene. The large increase in ferritin H-chain mRNA expression was both growth arrest and high density-dependent, but did not appear to be cell-cell contact-dependent. The increase in H-chain was partially accounted for by an increase in the transcription of this gene, but a post-transcriptional mechanism likely accounts for the majority of the observed difference in mRNA level. A greater than 3-fold higher expression of ferritin H-chain mRNA was also observed in BC3H1s (a nonfusing myogenic cell line) during the process of differentiation, but no elevation in ferritin H-chain mRNA was associated with density-dependent growth arrest in fibroblasts. Hemin (an intracellular iron donor) induced an elevation in ferritin H-chain mRNA expression in both preconfluent and post-confluent SMC, but was unable to elevate the preconfluent mRNA level to an untreated postconfluent level. In addition, deferoxamine (an intracellular iron chelator) was unable to reduce the ferritin mRNA level in postconfluent SMC. These results suggest that high density growth arrest-mediated elevation in ferritin H-chain occurs by a mechanism distinct from that induced by an increase in intracellular iron. cAMP was also a powerful modulator of the expression of ferritin H-chain gene since cells treated with forskolin or dibutyryl cAMP had a 5-7-fold higher level of ferritin H-chain mRNA. We propose that the increase in the ferritin H-chain mRNA level in postconfluent SMC may occur through a cAMP-dependent pathway and may be associated with an enhanced differentiated phenotype.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1990

Regulation of alpha-smooth muscle actin and other polypeptides in proliferating and density-arrested vascular smooth muscle cells.

We have examined alpha-smooth muscle actin (alpha-SM actin) protein and mRNA levels in proliferating and density-arrested rabbit vascular smooth muscle cells (SMC) and also studied overall polypeptide synthesis in these cells by two-dimensional (2-D) gel electrophoresis. Of the approximately 1,000 cellular polypeptides resolved by 2-D gel analysis, we consistently detected increased expression of 12 polypeptides in growth-arrested SMC. These polypeptides, with apparent molecular weights of 24,000 to 55,000 exhibited relative increases of between fourfold to greater than tenfold. Three of these polypeptides were expressed at undetectable levels in proliferating SMC. We also detected 12 secreted polypeptides that were expressed at higher levels in growth-arrested SMC. More changes were associated with the secreted polypeptides, since they represented approximately 4% of the total resolved secreted polypeptides, while only 1% of the cellular polypeptides were increased in high-density growth-arrested cells. Under these conditions we observed no change in relative alpha-SM actin protein content as determined by 2-D gel analysis and Western blots. This was corroborated by high levels of alpha-SM actin mRNA levels in both proliferating and high-density growth-arrested SMC. These results indicate rabbit vascular SMC maintain a high level of expression of a smooth muscle differentiation marker (alpha-SM actin) in a proliferation- and density-independent manner. We also examined polypeptide synthesis in SMC isolated by enzymatic digestion of the aorta vs. cells isolated by the explant method. We found that although overall protein patterns were remarkably similar, several differences were observed. These differences were not due to increased contamination by fibroblasts, since both enzymatically- and explant-derived SMC contained high levels of alpha-SM actin as determined by immunofluorescence and by Northern analysis.

Actins↗
PubMed1989

Regulation of extracellular matrix RNA levels in cultured smooth muscle cells. Relationship to cellular quiescence.

We have examined how the alpha 2(I), alpha 1(III), alpha 1(IV), and alpha 2(V) collagen genes as well as the thrombospondin and fibronectin genes are regulated by conditions that modulate the proliferation of smooth muscle cells in vitro. We find that smooth muscle cells (SMC) arrested by low serum containing media continue to express similar or slightly lower levels of mRNA for all the genes studied except type III collagen which exhibited a 5-fold increase. By contrast, when SMC are density-arrested, a coordinate increase in mRNA levels for all the extracellular matrix genes studied is observed. The increases range from approximately 1.5-fold for fibronectin to 5-fold for type III collagen. The mRNA levels for beta-tubulin and vimentin, however, are decreased in these density-arrested cells. Interestingly, the time course of increase for type IV collagen and fibronectin can be distinguished from the other extracellular matrix genes and best correlates with an increase in cell-cell contact. The increase in steady-state RNA levels for alpha 1(IV) collagen is not shared by fibroblasts similarly treated and may provide a useful marker for SMC in culture. Heparin, a potent inhibitor of SMC growth, increased the level of type III collagen mRNA about 2.5-fold and also increased the level of alpha 2(V) collagen and fibronectin. Transforming growth factor-beta is found to be a cell density-dependent modulator of SMC growth. Surprisingly, transforming growth factor-beta had little effect on most of the extracellular matrix genes studied. However, transforming growth factor-beta treatment of SMC increased thrombospondin mRNA levels about 4-fold, whereas type IV collagen mRNA exhibited a 2-fold increase. We conclude that type III collagen mRNA levels are positively and tightly coupled to SMC quiescence. The effect of cellular quiescence on other extracellular matrix mRNAs is complex but, in general, positive. This is particularly evident in SMC arrested by high cell density.

Animals↗
PubMed1986

Restriction enzyme digestions identify discrete domains in the chromatin around the promoter of the mouse alpha 2(I) collagen gene.

We have examined the chromatin structure around the +1 transcriptional start site of the mouse alpha 2(I) collagen gene by studying the accessibility of DNA to several restriction enzymes as well as to DNase I. In NIH 3T3 cells, which express high levels of alpha 2(I) collagen mRNA, we detect a DNase I-hypersensitive site from -240 to +110 relative to the start site of transcription at +1. By digesting chromatin with restriction enzymes, which cleave naked DNA at multiple sites within the -2000 to +1000 region, a considerably more complex picture was revealed. DNA sequences upstream of around -550 and downstream of +150 are much less accessible to restriction enzymes than the region between these sites and are, therefore, probably packaged in a more compact conformation. The region from around -550 to -240 although not within the DNase I-hypersensitive domain is nevertheless accessible to restriction enzymes and, therefore, presumably in a relatively "open" conformation. In addition, beginning 5' to -100 there is a gradual decrease in restriction enzyme accessibility as one approaches +150. Of particular interest is the finding that although sites at +65 and +126 are relatively accessible, a HinfI site at +113 is resistant in chromatin. In v-mos transformed NIH 3T3 cells which express alpha 2(I) collagen at much lower levels than untransformed NIH 3T3 cells, the DNase I-hypersensitive site as well as the majority of the chromatin restriction enzyme accessibility patterns are similar to those found in untransformed NIH 3T3 cells. However, a SphI site at +58 appears less accessible in the transformed cells. We also examined the chromatin of a myeloma cell line which does not synthesize alpha 2(I) collagen at detectable levels. In the nuclei of these cells the DNA of the alpha 2(I) collagen promoter is inaccessible to DNase I and to all restriction enzymes.

Animals↗
PubMed1986

Transcriptional activation encoded by the v-fos gene.

We present evidence that the fos oncogene encodes a transcriptional trans-activation function. trans-activation was assayed by cotransfection into NIH 3T3 mouse fibroblasts of v-fos DNA containing plasmids together with a plasmid containing a test promoter. Three v-fos DNAs were used: (i) pFBR-1, a plasmid containing the FBR proviral sequences; (ii) pFBJ-2, a plasmid harboring the FBJ proviral sequences; (iii) pMF-J, a plasmid containing the FBJ fos sequences linked to a mouse metallothionein promoter. Each of the three v-fos DNA plasmids stimulated the expression of a cotransfected chimeric gene consisting of a promoter segment of the mouse alpha 1(III) collagen gene linked to the gene for chloramphenicol transacetylase. In similar experiments the v-fos gene also stimulated the long terminal repeat promoter of Rous sarcoma virus (RSV) but neither the early promoter of simian virus 40 nor the beta-actin promoter. Evidence that the trans-activation function is specified by the v-fos coding sequences comes from the fact that a frameshift mutation in the v-fos coding sequence inhibits the trans-activation. Two mutations that map around nucleotide -100 in the RSV promoter do not respond to cotransfection with v-fos, whereas other mutations respond like the wild-type RSV promoter. These experiments suggest that the v-fos gene either encodes or induces an activator of transcription that recognizes specific sequences in promoters.

Animals↗
PubMed1985

Identification of the promoter and first exon of the mouse alpha 1 (III) collagen gene.

We have identified the promoter-proximal exon of the mouse alpha 1 (III) collagen gene using a synthetic oligonucleotide as a hybridization probe and have determined the DNA sequence of this exon and 380 base pairs 5' to it. The exact start site of transcription was localized with a primer extension experiment. The region upstream of the start of transcription shows only scattered homologies with the analogous sequences in the alpha 1(I) and alpha 2(I) mouse collagen genes although these genes are often co-expressed and co-regulated. The most striking homology with the type I gene is seen around the start of translation. This region contains an inverted repeat which could form a stem-loop structure with a calculated delta G of -30 kcal in the type III collagen mRNA. When compared to the alpha 1(I) and alpha 2(I) signal peptides, the signal peptide of mouse alpha 1(III) collagen presents less homology than when these segments are compared to each other.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1985

Coordinate regulation of the levels of type III and type I collagen mRNA in most but not all mouse fibroblasts.

A mouse genomic clone was isolated by cross-hybridization with a DNA fragment which codes for the NH2-propeptide of chick alpha1(III) collagen. The region of cross-hybridization within the mouse clone was localized, its sequence determined, and an exon coding for the NH2-propeptide of mouse alpha1(III) collagen was identified. This DNA fragment hybridizes to an RNA species of approximately 5300 nucleotides, slightly larger than the major alpha2(I) collagen RNA species. The mouse type III collagen probe was used to examine the effect of transformation on alpha1(III) collagen RNA levels in mouse fibroblasts. The levels of type III and type I collagen mRNA levels were compared in control and sarcoma virus-transformed murine cell lines, as well as in NIH 3T3 cells transformed by members of the human ras oncogenes. The levels of type III RNA decreased about 10-15-fold in Moloney sarcoma virus-transformed cells and in a cell line transformed with a v-mos-containing plasmid, but showed only a 50% decrease in a Kirsten murine sarcoma virus-transformed BALB 3T3 cell line, and increased 4-fold in a Rous sarcoma virus (RSV)-transformed BALB 3T3 cell line. In contrast, the levels of alpha2(I) collagen mRNA are 8- to 10-fold lower in all these cell lines when compared to untransformed cells. NIH 3T3 cells transformed with two human ras oncogenes showed decreased levels of alpha2(I) and alpha1(III) mRNAs. In contrast to the RSV-transformed mouse cell line, RSV-transformed chick embryo fibroblasts contained much smaller amounts of type III RNA than control chick embryo fibroblasts. We conclude that the levels of alpha1(III) and alpha2(I) collagen mRNA are often but not necessarily coordinately regulated by transformation in mouse cells.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1985

Structural and functional studies on the interstitial collagen genes.

An understanding of the molecular mechanisms which control expression of the type I and III collagen genes may provide a rational basis for the design of more effective therapeutic approaches to fibrotic diseases. The structure of the interstitial collagen genes is reviewed and potential sites which could control their expression are examined. One approach to the study of the regulation of these genes consists in DNA-mediated gene transfection experiments and is discussed in this paper.

Animals↗
PubMed1985

Partial characterization of nuclear binding sites for retinol delivered by cellular retinol binding protein.

Retinol (vitamin A alcohol), which plays an important role in the differentiation of epithelia, can be transferred to chromatin in vitro. Rat liver chromatin can accept retinol in a specific and saturable manner only when the retinol is presented as a complex with cellular retinol-binding protein (CRBP). A partial characterization of the nuclear components responsible for accepting retinol is reported here. A preparation of solubilized chromatin isolated from liver nuclei was able to accept retinol from its complex with CRBP as described previously for nuclei and chromatin. The binding of retinol to chromatin was noncovalent. However, chromatin prepared from nuclei which were incubated with DNase I or micrococcal nuclease did not accept retinol specifically. Chromatin in the form of mono and dinucleosomes also did not accept retinol. However, treatment of nuclei with RNase did not affect the specific binding of retinol. Furthermore, it has been found that retinol was not transferred to purified double or single stranded DNA. These results are interpreted to indicate that the transfer of retinol to specific nuclear binding sites requires a higher order of chromatin structure than that occurring in nucleosome preparations.

Animals↗
PubMed1985

Pleiotropic mutants of NIH 3T3 cells with altered regulation in the expression of both type I collagen and fibronectin.

Transformation of NIH 3T3 fibroblasts by v-mos causes a decrease in the levels of type I collagen RNA. In NIH 3T3 cells that have been made resistant to G418 by transfection with a plasmid in which the mouse alpha 2(I) collagen promoter is linked to the neo gene, subsequent v-mos transformation causes a loss of G418 resistance. After mutagenesis of these v-mos-transformed cells, G418-resistant colonies were selected. Two of these G418-resistant mutants showed an increased expression of the neo gene and of the endogenous type I collagen and fibronectin genes, without changes in their levels of v-mos RNA or in their ability to induce tumors. The mutations might alter cellular trans-acting factors that either directly or indirectly control the expression of the type I collagen and fibronectin genes in transformed cells.

Animals↗
PubMed1985

Malignant transformation and tumor promoter treatment increase levels of a transcript for a secreted glycoprotein.

The major excreted protein of transformed mouse fibroblasts, a secreted, mannose 6-phosphate-containing glycoprotein, is induced in nontransformed cells by a variety of transforming agents, by phorbol esters, and by platelet-derived growth factor. We report here the molecular cloning of the cDNA encoding this protein and demonstrate that its induction is a consequence of enhanced mRNA levels for major excreted protein in both tetradecanoyl phorbol acetate-treated 3T3 cells and 3T3 cells transformed by a variety of retroviruses or retroviral oncogenes. These results indicate that tumor promoters and retroviral transformation might share a common pathway of action in cultured cells and that major excreted protein is a molecular marker for the growth response of cells to these agents.

Animals↗