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M E Furth

Publications and source records attributed to M E Furth.

31 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

Preparation of rat monoclonal antibodies to epitopes encoded by the viral oncogene (v-fms) of McDonough feline sarcoma virus.

The McDonough strain of feline sarcoma virus (SM-FeSV) contains a viral oncogene, v-fms, transduced from cat cellular genetic sequences designated c-fms. Monoclonal antibodies reactive to antigenic determinants encoded by v-fms were prepared by immunizing rats with live, syngeneic SM-FeSV-transformed cells, and fusing splenic lymphocytes from a tumor-bearing animal with cultured rat myeloma cells. Culture supernatants from hybrids producing antibodies to epitopes encoded by v-fms were identified by immunoprecipitation of radiolabeled polypeptides from SM-FeSV-transformed mink cells. Four positive hybrids were cloned twice in soft agar, established as stable lines, and grown in defined serum-free medium to facilitate purification of homogeneous antibodies. The monoclonal antibodies were used to assay SM-FeSV-specific products by "immunoblotting" of electrophoretically separated proteins, and by fixed-cell immunofluorescence.

Animals↗

Monoclonal antibodies to the p21 products of the transforming gene of Harvey murine sarcoma virus and of the cellular ras gene family.

We have isolated eight rat lymphocyte-myeloma hybrid cell lines producing monoclonal antibodies that react with the 21,000-dalton transforming protein (p21) encoded by the v-ras gene of Harvey murine sarcoma virus (Ha-MuSV). These antibodies specifically immunoprecipitate both phosphorylated and non-phosphorylated forms of p21 from lysates of cells transformed by Ha-MuSV. All eight react with the products of closely related ras genes expressed in cells transformed by two additional sarcoma viruses (rat sarcoma virus and BALB sarcoma virus) or by a cellular Harvey-ras gene placed under the control of a viral promoter. Three of the antibodies also react strongly with the p21 encoded by the v-ras gene of Kirsten MuSV. These same three antibodies immunoprecipitate the predominant p21 species synthesized normally in a variety of rodent cell lines, including the p21 produced at high levels in 416B murine hemopoietic cells. This suggests that an endogenous gene closely related to Kirsten-ras is expressed in these cells. The monoclonal antibodies have been used to confirm two properties associated with p21; localization at the inner surface of the membrane of Ha-MuSV-transformed cells, assayed by immunofluorescence microscopy, and binding of guanine nucleotides.

Animals↗

Mouse cells contain two distinct ras gene mRNA species that can be translated into a p21 onc protein.

The Kirsten (Ki) and Harvey (Ha) strains of murine sarcoma virus encode a 21,000-dalton protein (p21 ras) which is the product of the transforming gene of these viruses. Normal cells express low levels of p21 ras encoded by cellular genes (Ki-ras and Ha-ras) homologous to the Ki and Ha murine sarcoma virus transformation genes. A bone marrow-derived mouse cell line, 416B, has been shown to express unusually high levels of p21 ras. In this manuscript, we investigated the molecular biology of p21 ras gene expression in 416B and other normal mouse cells. We identified four distinct polyadenylated and polysome-associated RNAs, two related to Ki-ras and two to Ha-ras. The levels in 416B cells of the two Ki-ras RNAs, sized 5.2 and 2.0 kilobases, were both elevated approximately 25-fold over levels found in normal mouse cells; there was no corresponding change in 416B cells in the levels of the two Ha-ras RNAs. We partially purified the two Ki-ras mRNAs and separated them by velocity sedimentation in sucrose density gradients. Both the 5.2- and 2.0-kilobase mRNAs could be translated in vitro into p21 ras. These results show that a cellular onc protein can be translated from two distinct cellular mRNA species.

Animals↗

Construction of chimeric phages and plasmids containing the origin of replication of bacteriophage lambda.

Segments of the replication control region of bacteriophage lambda (lambda) and lambda mutants defective in replication were attached in vitro to the phi80 phage vector Charon 3 and to the plasmid vector mini Col El (pVH51). The chimeric phages and plasmids have been used to localize the origin of lambda DNA replication and to facilitate a structural analysis of the lambda replicator.

Chromosome Mapping↗

Genetic structure of the replication origin of bacteriophage lambda.

A fragment of bacteriophage lambda DNA produced by the restriction endonuclease Eco RI and extending from the immunity region to a point inside gene O is found to have a fully functional origin of replication. Seven ori- mutations of lambda cluster in a small region just to the left of the Eco RI cleavage site which defines the right end of this fragment. These mutations lie within gene O.

Chromosome Mapping↗

Physical structure of the replication origin of bacteriophage lambda.

The nucleotide sequence of part of the replication region of wild-type bacteriophage lambda and of four mutants defective in the origin of DNA replication (ori-) has been determined. Three of the ori- mutations are small deletions, and one is a transversion. The sequence of the origin region, defined by these mutations, contains a number of unusual features.

Base Sequence↗

Effects of ribosomal mutations on the read-through of a chain termination signal: studies on the synthesis of bacteriophage lambda O gene protein in vitro.

In a DNA-dependent protein-synthesizing system that contains streptomycin-sensitive ribosomes, lambda DNA directs the synthesis of two proteins that are products of the O gene. The larger is produced as a result of read-through of a UGA termination codon. In the system containing streptomycin-resistant ribosomes this read-through protein is not synthesized, indicating that the mutational alteration in the ribosomal protein S12 restricts the read-through. The mutant ribosomes also fail to synthesize the read-through coat protein of RNA phage Qbeta. In addition, the mutant ribosomes restrict suppression of amber mutations in vitro, similar to their effect in vivo.

Coliphages↗

Transforming ras genes from human melanoma: a manifestation of tumour heterogeneity?

Variability in the phenotype of cells comprising individual tumours is a striking feature of animal and human cancer and is generally referred to as tumour heterogeneity. Studies of clonally derived cell populations from tumours that originated presumably from a single transformed cell have shown that tumours are made up of cells that differ in a variety of traits, including drug resistance, antigen expression and metastatic potential. The origin and maintenance of tumour heterogeneity are unclear, but mutational and epigenetic mechanisms are thought to be involved. Here we report the results of a search for transforming genes in human melanoma which have raised the possibility that ras gene activation follows the same variable pattern as other traits involved in tumour heterogeneity. DNA from 4 of 30 melanoma cell lines yielded transforming ras genes in the NIH/3T3 assay. Of five cell lines originating from separate metastatic deposits of a single patient, only one contained activated ras, indicating heterogeneity in ras activation in this case and suggesting that ras activation was not involved in tumour initiation or maintenance in this patient.

Animals↗