Oncogene database

5155

PDGFB

platelet-derived growth factor beta polypeptide;PDGFB;platelet-derived growth factor beta polypeptide

PDGF subunit B|PDGF, B chain|becaplermin|platelet-derived growth factor 2|platelet-derived growth factor B chain|platelet-derived growth factor beta polypeptide (simian sarcoma viral (v-sis) oncogene homolog)|platelet-derived growth factor subunit B|plate

22q13.1

protein-coding

While platelet-derived growth factor, PDGF, is not regularly expressed in mesenchymal tissues, PDGF B mRNA is often found in tumors derived from these tissues. PDGF B protein is also present, but the protein levels in individual tumors do not appear to correlate well with those of the mRNA. PDGF B is homologous to the v-sis oncogene of simian sarcoma virus (SSV), and certain deletions confined to 3; and 5; non-coding sequences of PDGF B mRNA are consistently found in tumors induced by SSV and by a PDGF B retrovirus. Part of exon 1, including a non-coding GC-rich regulatory domain and the signal sequence as well as a 149 nucleotide long AU-rich stretch in the 3; non-coding region, are often lost. We hoped that this information could provide a clue to defective regulatory mechanisms present in human tumors and have searched for such mRNA variants in human sarcoma cell lines and soft tissue tumors. We identified a splice variant of PDGF B mRNA that, similar to v-sis, lacks the 149 nucleotide stretch and introduces an anomalous splice point between exons 6 and 7. This weakly abundant mRNA variant was co-expressed with the regular PDGF B mRNA, but its presence failed to show any association with increased levels of immunohistochemically detectable PDGF B protein. Instead, the highest levels of cellular PDGF B protein were found in samples with mRNAs showing exon 1 divergence. The changes in the 5; end of the mRNA were not accompanied by any genomic aberrations.

Human c-sis/PDGF-B proto-oncogene has been shown to be overexpressed in a large percentage of human tumor cells establishing a growth-promoting, autocrine growth circuit. Triplex forming oligonucleotides (TFOs) can recognize and bind sequences in duplex DNA, and have received considerable attention because of their potential for targeting specific genomic sites. The c-sis/PDGF-B promoter contains a unique homopurine/homopyrimidine sequence (SIS proximal element, SPE), which is crucial for binding nuclear factors that provoke transcription. In order to develop specific transcriptional inhibitors of the human c-sis/PDGF-B proto-oncogene, 20 potential TFOs targeting part or ALL of the SPE were screened by gel mobility analysis. DNase I footprinting shows that the TFOs we designed can form a sequence-specific triplex with the target. Protein binding assays demonstrate that triplex formation inhibits nuclear factors binding the c-sis/PDGF-B promoter. Both transient and stable transfection experiments demonstrate that the transcriptional activity of the promoter is considerably inhibited by the TFOs. We propose that TFOs represent a therapeutic potential to specifically diminish the expression of c-sis/PDGF-B proto-oncogene in various pathologic settings where constitutive expression of this gene has been observed.

Specific oncogenes that contribute to the pathogenesis of canine osteosarcoma (OS) have not been identified. In the process of characterizing four OS cell lines, we have found one cell line, CO8, that overexpresses the sis oncogene, which encodes the platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF)-beta. The expression of an important downstream transcriptional target of the PDGF signaling pathway, c-myc, is also elevated fourfold. Conditioned medium from CO8 alone specifically induces tyrosine phosphorylation and therefore the activation of the PDGF-alpha and PDGF-beta receptors on murine 3T3 cells. ALL of the canine OS lines tested contain PDGF receptors and therefore are capable of responding to PDGE Given the importance of PDGF in promoting cell proliferation, migration, and cell survival, the activation of the sis oncogene and the resultant growth factor autocrine loop potentially contribute to the pathogenesis of a subset of canine osteosarcomas.

The v-sis oncogene product p28v-sis and the platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) B chain share 92% homology with each other and over 50% homology with the PDGF A chain. Exogenously added homodimers of PDGF A and PDGF B and of p28v-sis are potent mitogens but only PDGF B and p28v-sis induce transformation when endogenously expressed with a strong promoter. Because exogenous PDGF AA and PDGF BB both initiate a full mitogenic response, understanding the mechanisms underlying the difference in their transforming potential may clarify how growth factor genes act as oncogenes. In this work, we compared cells expressing high levels of PDGF A and v-sis. We observed that transformation by v-sis correlated directly with the rapid degradation (t1/2 approximately 20 min) of the alpha and beta PDGF receptors, with a failure of either the alpha or beta receptor to be fully processed and with the association of high levels of phosphatidylinositol (PI) 3-kinase with immunoprecipitates of the PDGF receptors. In contrast, in cells expressing essentially equal levels of PDGF A, transformation was not detected, alpha and beta PDGF receptor processing was normal, and association of PI 3-kinase with receptors in immunoprecipitates was not found above control values. The ability of v-sis to autoactivate PDGF receptors within processing compartments and to initiate activation of the PI 3-kinase signaling pathway coupled with the failure of PDGF A to activate its receptor intracellularly and to induce transformation when endogenously expressed at high levels suggests that the internal autoactivation of PDGF receptors may be essential for transformation by v-sis.

tumor necrosis factor (TNF) induces both cell death and survival signals. NF-kappaB, a transcription factor activated by TNF, is critical for controlling survival signals through trans-activation of downstream target genes. However, few NF-kappaB target survival genes have been identified with direct roles in oncogenesis. We report that platelet-derived growth factor B (PDGF-B), an oncogene and growth factor, is highly induced by TNF in fibroblasts in an NF-kappaB-dependent manner. PDGF-B can rescue NF-kappaB-deficient fibroblasts from TNF-mediated killing, and inhibition of PDGF-B signaling sensitizes wild-type cells to TNF-induced death. Interestingly, PDGF-B-transformed NIH-3T3 cells are even more highly sensitized to TNF-induced cell death with PDGF-B inhibition. Our results suggest that while normal cells contain multiple TNF-induced survival signals, tumor cells may favor a specific survival gene that is abnormally upregulated in order to evade death signals.

Platelet-derived growth factor B (PDGF-B) overexpression induces gliomas of different grades from murine embryonic neural progenitors. For the first time, we formally demonstrated that PDGF-B-induced neoplasms undergo progression from nontumorigenic low-grade tumors toward highly malignant forms. This result, showing that PDGF-B signaling alone is insufficient to confer malignancy to cells, entails the requirement for further molecular lesions in this process. Our results indicate that one of these lesions is represented by the down-regulation of the oncosuppressor Btg2. By in vivo transplantation assays, we further demonstrate that fully progressed tumors are PDGF-B-addicted because their tumor-propagating ability is lost when the PDGF-B transgene is silenced, whereas it is promptly reacquired after its reactivation. We provide evidence that this oncogene addiction is not caused by the need for PDGF-B as a mitogen but, rather, to the fact that PDGF-B is required to overcome cell-cell contact inhibition and to confer in vivo infiltrating potential on tumor cells.

Normal lung structure is maintained by the presence of mesenchymal cells and their extracellular matrix products. The slow normal turnover of these cells is disrupted in fibrotic disorders, resulting in the in situ accumulation of mesenchymal cells and their extracellular matrix leading to a progressive alveolar wall thickening. Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a chronic fibrotic disorder of the lung characterized by a diffuse interstitial and intra-alveolar inflammation dominated by macrophages and polymorphonuclear neutrophils. Evaluation of alveolar macrophages (AM) obtained by bronchoalveolar lavage has previously shown that AM from normal individuals spontaneously release small amounts of platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF), a chemotactic and growth factor for mesenchymal cells, whereas AM from IPF patients spontaneously release increased amounts of biologically active PDGF, suggesting its involvement in mesenchymal cell accumulation. However, other cells such as endothelial cells and vascular smooth muscle cells can also release PDGF in vitro. In order to specify PDGF location in lung parenchyma, open lung biopsies from normal individuals and IPF patients were examined by immunohistochemistry using an anti-PDGF antibody and by in situ hybridization using PDGF A-chain and B-chain gene probes. In normal as well as in fibrotic lung, PDGF was only present in relation with interstitial macrophages but not with any other inflammatory cells or mesenchymal cells. Furthermore, the percentage of PDGF-positive macrophages in IPF was 3-fold increased in comparison to normal lung. In addition, the percentage of PDGF-positive macrophages was the same in fibrotic and nonfibrotic areas of IPF lungs.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)FAU - Vignaud, J M

The murine proto-oncogene c-sis (Sis, PDGFB), encoding the B chain of platelet-derived growth factor, has been cloned. Its structure, with seven exons spanning approximately 20 kb, closely resembles that of the human and feline homologs. The predicted amino acid sequence of murine PDGF-B has residues 89% identical to those of human PDGF-B. A noncoding region at the start of exon 7, which is deleted by alternative splicing during the generation of the viral v-sis oncogene, is highly conserved in human, mouse, and cat and may represent an important regulatory element.

The expression of c-sis proto-oncogene in bronchoalveolar mononuclear cells was studied in seven patients with pulmonary sarcoidosis. By means of nuclear run on transcription assay, the transcriptional level of c-sis proto-oncogene in bronchoalveolar mononuclear cells was investigated. expression of c-sis proto-oncogene in bronchoalveolar mononuclear cells was enhanced. Enhancement of c-sis transcription may be involved in the process of activation of bronchoalveolar mononuclear cells in patients with pulmonary sarcoidosis.

We have reported that the oncoprotein hepatitis B virus X-interacting protein (HBXIP) acts as a novel transcriptional coactivator to promote proliferation and migration of breast cancer cells. Previously, we showed that HBXIP was able to activate nuclear factor-kappaB (NF-kappaB) in breast cancer cells. As an oncogene, the platelet-derived growth factor beta polypeptide (PDGFB) plays crucial roles in carcinogenesis. In the present study, we found that both HBXIP and PDGFB were highly expressed in breast cancer cell lines. Interestingly, HBXIP was able to increase transcriptional activity of NF-kappaB through PDGFB, suggesting that HBXIP is associated with PDGFB in the cells. Moreover, HBXIP was able to upregulate PDGFB at the levels of mRNA, protein and promoter in the cells. Then, we identified that HBXIP stimulated the promoter of PDGFB through activating transcription factor Sp1. In function, HBXIP enhanced the proliferation of breast cancer cells through PDGFB in vitro. Thus, we conclude that HBXIP upregulates PDGFB via activating transcription factor Sp1 to promote proliferation of breast cancer cells.

A method for immunodetection of individual epitopes on eukaryotic proteins synthesized in E. coli colonies is described. The system is developed using monoclonal antibodies produced against the Ha-ras protein produced in E. coli JM103. Monoclonal antibodies made against a synthetic peptide from the v-sis oncogene sequence are then used to identify bacterial colonies in which the v-sis protein is being produced. Production of the v-sis protein by these E. coli colonies was confirmed by immunoblot analysis. The assay utilizes peroxidase conjugated anti-mouse immunoglobulin and 4-chloro-1-naphthol to detect the positive colonies and can detect on the order of 200 pg antigen per E. coli colony.

We describe a case of primary myelofibrosis which terminated in an acute megakaryoblastic leukaemia with massive marrow fibrosis and osteosclerosis. The megakaryocyte lineage of the terminal phase was confirmed by ultrastructural and surface marker studies of the blast cells. The leukaemic phase was associated with the presence of large numbers of progressively more immature megakaryocyte progenitors in the peripheral blood. The expression of c-sis mRNA in these blast cells was significantly higher than in normal mononuclear cells. Activation of the c-sis protooncogene leading to increased production of platelet-derived growth factor could be related to the progressive fibrosis observed.

A retrovirus containing the entire human platelet-derived growth factor B-chain (PDGF-B) gene was constructed in order to investigate the in vivo biological activity of its encoded growth factor. When this virus was introduced into newborn mice, it reproducibly generated fibrosarcomas at the site of inoculation. Proviruses in each fibrosarcoma analyzed had lost 149 nucleotides downstream of the PDGF-B coding region. This deletion originated from an alternative or aberrant splice event that occurred within exon 7 of the PDGF-B gene and mimicked the v-sis oncogene. Thus, deletion of this region may be necessary for efficient retrovirus replication or for more potent transforming function. Evidence that the normal growth factor coding sequence was unaltered derived from RNase protection studies and immunoprecipitation analysis. tumors were generally polyclonal but demonstrated clonal subpopulations. Moreover, tumor-derived cell lines became monoclonal within a few tissue culture passages and rapidly formed tumors in vivo. These findings argue that overexpression of the normal human PDGF-B gene product under retrovirus control can induce the fully malignant phenotype.

Regulation of expression of platelet derived growth factor polypeptide B encoded by the c-sis proto-oncogene is important in a number of physiological and pathological conditions. Sequences in the 1028 nucleotide long 5 untranslated region of the c-sis mRNA were found to inhibit protein synthesis. The inhibition is relieved by deletion of nucleotides 154-378 or 398-475. Sequences within 375 nucleotides upstream of the RNA initiation site are important for transcriptional activity. Sequences in two portions of this region, between -375 and -235 nucleotides and between -235 and -99 nucleotides relative to the RNA CAP site are important for full activity. A transcriptional enhancer activity is demonstrated by its ability to increase the activity of the human T lymphotropic virus type (HTLV) I promoter at a distance and in an orientation-independent manner. Furthermore, sequences upstream of the c-sis RNA CAP site respond to the HTLV I transactivator protein to increase RNA synthesis from either the c-sis or HTLV I promoter.

The precision of molecular biology has allowed a better definition of the components of the Abelson system. We know the gene structures and gene products for the cellular and viral forms of this family of related tyrosine kinases. However, many basic issues first identified in the early biological observations of Abelson, Rabstein, and others remain unanswered. The precise pathway for transformation in biochemical terms remains unknown for Ab-MLV and ALL of its relatives. Relatively little can be said to explain the preferential growth stimulation for certain hematopoietic cell types by the viral and other altered forms of the oncogene, and no clear insights into the function of the normal cellular forms of the abl oncogene are available. Future progress will certainly depend on the intensive efforts by many workers in the broader field of cellular growth control mechanisms.

The N-myc amplification unit was investigated using two restriction fragment length polymorphisms for SphI and PvuII which we previously found to occur in the 2nd intron and in the 3 region of the human N-myc oncogene, respectively. ALL the three haplotypes which are dominant in the Japanese population were observed in the amplified DNA after analyses of a total of 22 DNA samples of fresh neuroblastomas with N-myc amplification. We conclude that only one of the alleles was amplified and that either allele could be amplified with respect to both the SphI and PvuII polymorphisms.

Although the pathogenesis and mechanisms responsible for excessive connective tissue deposition are not known, it has been thought that specific growth factors may have an effect on scar formation by increasing the fibroblast population and by affecting the amount and types of matrix synthesized. In this regard, we explored the appearance and localization of TGF alpha, TGF beta, PDGF, and sis-onc expression in situ. Sections of skin biopsies from eight scleroderma patients were investigated using specific antibodies to TGF alpha, TGF beta, human PDGF, and sis-onc products for immunohistochemistry. Most significantly, deposition of PDGF was detected in the endothelial lining of small capillaries in association with certain mononuclear cells of the perivascular infiltrates. In particular, strong labeling was observed in the cytoplasm of macrophages. Smooth muscle also appeared to be specifically labeled. Similarly, sis-onc product localized in the same areas. No significant staining was observed with antibodies to TGF alpha. TGF beta was found rather diffusely throughout the dermal connective tissue and was only occasionally observed in capillaries of lesions. We conclude that the PDGF may play an important role in the pathogenesis of scleroderma.

The simian sarcoma virus (SSV) oncogene (v-sis) has a high degree of homology to the cellular gene coding for the B peptide of human platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF), a potent fibroblast mitogen. The cellular homolog of v-sis is activated in some mesenchymal human tumors and cell lines derived from them. To determine the phenotype produced by v-sis in diploid human fibroblasts, we constructed plasmids containing the SSV provirus and drug-resistance markers and transfected them into early-passage human cells. Fibroblasts that had integrated the plasmid were selected for drug resistance and shown to contain and express the v-sis oncogene by DNA and RNA hybridization. The v-sis-expressing cells grew to higher saturation densities than control cells transfected with the vector plasmid alone and formed large, well defined foci. This allowed selection of transfectants directly for focus formation. The v-sis transformed cells continued to grow well in the absence of serum, whereas age-matched, vector-transfected control cells ceased replicating under these conditions so that the final difference in density between the two populations was tenfold. Incorporation of thymidine in serum-free medium by the v-sis-transformed cells was independent of exogenous PDGF. In contrast, PDGF increased thymidine incorporation in such medium by the control cells to the level found in the v-sis-transformed cells with or without added PDGF. These results suggest that expression of the v-sis oncogene in diploid human fibroblasts causes sufficient endogenous synthesis of the B chain of PDGF to allow transformants to grow to abnormally high cell densities. When individual v-sis-transformed cells were grown on a background of normal cells, this higher cell density at confluence could be visualized as a focus.

A clone containing the 3 end of the mRNA for the human c-sis gene (homologous to the B chain of platelet-derived growth factor) was isolated from a cDNA library derived from human umbilical vein endothelial cells and then sequenced. The analysis of possible translation products in ALL three reading frames indicated that the A chain of platelet-derived growth factor was not coded for within the 3 end of the c-sis mRNA. The 3 end of the mRNA for c-sis is contained in or adjacent to exon 6.

A human c-sis cDNA in an expression vector was introduced into human diploid fibroblasts by transfection or electroporation. Fibroblast clones showing an aberrant, densely packed colony morphology were isolated and found to overexpress a 3.6-kilobase sis mRNA species and associated immunoprecipitable platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) 2 proteins. Parallel analyses in cell clones of sis mRNA expression and colony formation in agar indicated that, above a threshold, a linear, positive correlation existed between sis overexpression and acquired anchorage independence. The sis-overexpressing cells formed transient, regressing tumor nodules when injected into nude mice, consistent with the finite life span which they retained. Protein products generated from the transfected c-sis construct in two overexpressing clones were immunoprecipitated with anti-human PDGF antibodies. One clone contained an apparent PDGF dimer of 21 kilodaltons; the second clone contained only an apparent PDGF monomer of 12 kilodaltons, which was shown to account for ALL of the mitogenic activity present in the cells, essentially ALL of which was concentrated in the membrane fraction. The results demonstrate a clear link between sis overexpression and acquisition of a partially transformed, anchorage-independent phenotype, and when combined with previous observations of sis overexpression in human tumors, clearly implicate sis overexpression as a genetic mechanism which contributes to human cell transformation.

In chicken cells, we previously identified a set of proteins (p58-64) structurally related to, but distinct from, the products encoded by the c-ets proto-oncogene. We report here the isolation and nucleotide sequence of a cDNA encoding nuclear products of mol. wt 58, 60, 62 and 64 kd, indistinguishable from those detected in chicken cells. The p60 and p64 species appear to represent phosphorylated versions on serine and threonine residues of p58 and p62. The homology of p58-64 to other ets-related proteins, including the v-ets encoded domain of the transforming protein of avian leukemia virus E26 and p54c-ets, the translation product of the chicken (Ck) c-ets gene, is confined to two regions of 175 and 96 amino acid residues localized respectively at the carboxy-terminal domain and close to the amino-terminal domain of these molecules. This cDNA corresponds to a gene localized in a locus distinct from that of c-ets which is transcribed as a 4.0-kb RNA species in most chicken tissues. We also identified the human (Hu) c-ets-2-encoded products as two proteins of 60 and 62 kd, highly related to chicken p58-64. This, together with the fact that the amino acid sequence of the cDNA encoding p58-64 is 95% identical to the reported partial sequence of a Hu-c-ets-2 cDNA, indicates that p58-64 are the translation products of the Ck-c-ets-2 gene.

Current ideas about the mechanism of wound healing and the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis, pulmonary fibrosis and hepatic fibrosis suggest a central role for the mononuclear phagocyte in attracting and/or stimulating the proliferation of mesenchymal cells. We demonstrate here that activated human blood monocytes, but not resting monocytes, release a mediator that attracts smooth muscle cells and cooperates with other mediators to stimulate fibroblast proliferation. This mediator is very similar to platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF): its chromatographic properties and chemical stability are similar to those of PDGF, it competes with 125I-PDGF for binding to fibroblasts and it immunoprecipitates with anti-PDGF antibodies. In parallel, stimulated monocytes, but not resting monocytes, express the c-sis proto-oncogene, a gene coding for one of the PDGF chains, consistent with the concept that expression of the c-sis proto-oncogene may be involved in the ability of mononuclear phagocytes to modulate the accumulation of mesenchymal cells.

The neu oncogene is repeatedly activated in neuro- and glioblastomas derived by transplacental mutagenesis of the BDIX strain of rat with ethylnitrosourea. Foci induced by the DNAs from such tumours on NIH 3T3 cells contain the neu oncogene and an associated phosphoprotein of relative molecular mass 185,000 (p185). Previous work has shown that the neu gene is related to, but distinct from, the gene encoding the EGF receptor (c-erb-B). Here we describe a neu complementary DNA clone isolated from a cell line transformed by this oncogene; the clone has biological activity in a focus-forming assay. The nucleotide sequence of this clone predicts a 1,260-amino-acid transmembrane protein product similar in overall structure to the EGF receptor. We found that 50% of the predicted amino acids of neu and the EGF receptor are identical; greater than 80% of the amino acids in the tyrosine kinase domain are identical. Our results suggest strongly that the neu gene encodes the receptor for an as yet unidentified growth factor.

The oncogene of simian sarcoma virus, v-sis, encodes a protein which is homologous to human platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF). This v-sis-encoded protein was expressed in bacteria using an inducible promotor of lambda phage. Soluble extracts from these bacteria contained a substance which competed with 125I-PDGF for PDGF receptor sites in fibroblast membranes. The receptor competition activity was correlated with the presence of the v-sis-encoded protein as assessed by genetic and immunochemical criteria. These results directly demonstrate that the v-sis oncogene product is functionally related to PDGF.

The protein encoded by the simian sarcoma virus oncogene (v-sis) contains a signal sequence, derived from the envelope gene of the parental retrovirus, which is required for transformation. Removal of the proposed signal sequence was correlated with loss of biological activity. This activity was restored to inactive deletion mutants by fusion with the coding region for a heterologous signal sequence. Biological activity of v-sis was also abolished by either a small deletion within the coding region of the signal sequence or by a point mutation introduced by site-directed mutagenesis.

The mouse homolog (c-sis) of the transforming gene of the simian sarcoma virus was mapped to chromosome 15 by the Southern blot analysis of DNA s from hamster-mouse somatic cell hybrids. Alterations in c-sis expression may thus play a role in the various murine neoplastic diseases characterized by rearrangements or duplications of chromosome 15.

The nucleotide sequences of the six regions within the normal human cellular locus (c-sis) that correspond to the entire transforming region of the simian sarcoma virus (SSV) genome (v-sis) were determined. The regions are bounded by acceptor and donor splice sites and, except for region 6, resemble exons. Region 6 lacks a 3 donor splice site and terminates -5 base pairs from the 3 v-sis-helper-viral junction. This is consistent with a model proposing that SSV was generated by recombination between proviral DNA of a simian sarcoma associated virus and proto-sis and that introns were spliced out subsequently from a fused viral-sis messenger RNA. This also suggests that the 3 recombination occurred within an exon of the woolly monkey (Lagothrix) genome. The open reading frames predicting the v-sis and c-sis gene products coincide with the stop codon of c-sis located 123 nucleotides into the fifth region of homology. The overall nucleotide homology was 91 percent with substitutions mainly in the third codon positions within the open reading frame and with greatest divergence within the untranslated 3 portion of the sequences. The predicted protein products for v-sis and c-sis are 93 percent homologous. The predicted c-sis gene product is identical in 31 of 31 amino acids to one of the published sequences of platelet-derived growth factor. Thus, c-sis encodes one chain of human platelet-derived growth factor.

The simian sarcoma virus transforming gene, v-sis, encodes a protein, p28sis , that is closely related to human platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF). The human locus related to v-sis was cloned and shown to contain at least five exons corresponding to the v-sis coding region. Nucleotide sequence analysis of these exons revealed that the predicted amino acid sequence of human c-sis differed by 6% from that of the woolly monkey-derived v-sis. These findings imply that the sis proto-oncogene has been well conserved during primate evolution. By comparison of the known amino acid sequences of PDGF peptides with the predicted human c-sis protein, it was possible to demonstrate that this human proto-oncogene is the structural gene encoding one of the two major polypeptides of this potent mitogen for connective tissue cells.

Oncogenes are a group of evolutionary conserved cellular genes (c-onc) homologous to the transforming genes of oncogenic retroviruses (v-onc). Some of them are localized near the breakpoints of specific chromosomal aberrations occurring in various neoplasms, as for example the Philadelphia translocation, t(9;22)(q34;q11), in chronic myelocytic leukemia (CML). Recently, we localized the human c-abl oncogene to chromosome region 9q34 and demonstrated a translocation of this gene to the Philadelphia chromosome (Ph1,22q-) in various forms of Ph1-positive, but not Ph1-negative, chronic myelocytic leukemia (CML). Another human oncogene, c-sis, is located on chromosome 22 and was recently reported to be transferred to chromosome 9q+ in one CML patient. We have now studied 2 CML patients with classic and variant types of Ph1 translocation, one Ph1-negative case, and a healthy control using in situ hybridization of a c-sis probe to metaphase chromosomes. These studies show that c-sis: (1) is localized to region 22q12.3-q13.1, far away from the breakpoint region 22q11 in CML, (2) segregates with the translocated part of chromosome 22 to different chromosomes in Ph1-positive patients, and (3) remains on chromosome 22 in the Ph1-negative case. Therefore, these data give no support for an active role of the c-sis gene in the generation of CML. Thus, if either of these two oncogenes is involved in the development of Ph1-positive CML, c-abl appears to be the more important one.

The study of cellular oncogenes and of chromosomal abnormalities in human tumours has, in several instances, suggested a link between a specific oncogene translocation and oncogenesis. It was recently suggested that the translocation of the c-abl gene (the human cellular homologue of the transforming sequence of Abelson murine leukaemia virus) from chromosome 9 to 22 in Philadelphia translocation, might have a role in the generation of chronic myeloid leukaemia (CML). We propose an alternative hypothesis and suggest that the translocation of another gene, c-sis, may be more important.

Chronic myeloid leukaemia (CML) cells are often characterized by the presence of a small chromosome 22, in which most of the q arm has been translocated to chromosome 9. Using cell hybrids containing different parts of chromosome 22 I have mapped the c-sis oncogene, which is known to be situated on chromosome 22, to a region distal to the CML breakpoint (22q112) and proximal to 22q13. This demonstrates that c-sis is translocated to chromosome 9 in CML cells.

Three types of tumors termed plasmacytomas (ABPC s), lymphosarcomas (ABLS s), and plasmacytoid lymphosarcomas (ABPL s) arise in BALB/c mice treated with pristane and Abelson murine leukemia virus (A-MuLV). While most ABPC s and BLS s contain integrated A-MuLV proviral genome and synthesize the v-abl RNA, most ABPL s do not. The ABPL tumors were examined for the expression of other oncogenes that may be associated with their transformed state, in the absence of transforming virus. These tumors expressed abundant c-myb RNA of unusually large size and showed DNA rearrangements of the c-myb locus.

The ductus deferens smooth muscle tumor cell line (DDT1MF-2) expresses c-sis proto-oncogene poly A+ RNA transcripts which are thought to encode at least one subunit of the potent mitogen platelet derived growth factor (PDGF). We have previously demonstrated that glucocorticoids block DDT1MF-2 cells in G0/G1 stage of the cell cycle, and that exogenously applied PDGF reinitiates cell cycle progression. In this paper we document that glucocorticoids act to inhibit cell cycle progression by inhibiting the expression of c-sis poly A+ transcripts, which we suggest are encoding a PDGF-like molecule for DDT1MF-2 cells.

High-level activity of the human PDGF-B promoter in choriocarcinoma cell lines depends upon an atypical, intronic enhancer-like element which does not function with heterologous promoters tested. An extensive series of mutant PDGF-B promoter-driven constructs identified a sequence flanking the TATA box which is required specifically for enhancer-mediated transcription in human choriocarcinoma cell lines. This element, which we here term an enhancer-dependent cis co-activator (EDC) contains an Inr (initiator) consensus sequence upstream of the TATA box which is required, but not sufficient for its function. Requirement for the EDC is cell type-specific, since it was dispensable for enhancer-mediated transcription in a human breast cancer cell line. Although it lies within the region defined, the TATA box itself is not required for EDC function, or for basal promoter function which may derive from a second Inr-like sequence situated at the transcriptional start site. These observations indicate that interactions between some promoter and enhancer elements may be more complex than that generally described for classical enhancer systems and may suggest an additional function for the initiator motif.

The location of autocrine interactions between the v-sis protein and PDGF receptors remains uncertain and controversial. To examine whether receptor-ligand interactions can occur intracellularly, we have constructed fusion proteins that anchor v-sis to specific intracellular membranes. Fusion of a cis-Golgi retention signal from a coronavirus E1 glycoprotein to v-sis protein completely abolished its transforming ability when transfected into NIH3T3 cells. Fusion proteins incorporating mutations in this retention signal were not retained within the Golgi complex but instead were transported to the cell surface, resulting in efficient transformation. ALL chimeric proteins were shown to dimerize properly. Derivatives of some of these constructs were also constructed bearing the cytoplasmic tail from the glycoprotein of vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV-G). These constructs allowed examination of subcellular localization by double-label immunofluorescence, using antibodies that distinguish between the extracellular PDGF-related domain and the VSV-G cytoplasmic tail. Colocalization of sis-E1-G with Golgi markers confirmed its targeting to the early Golgi complex. The sis-E1 constructs, targeted to the early Golgi complex, exhibited no proteolytic processing whereas the mutant forms of sis-E1 exhibited normal proteolytic processing. Treatment with suramin, a polyanionic compound that disrupts ligand/receptor interactions at the cell surface, was able to revert the transformed phenotype induced by the mutant sis-E1 constructs described here. Our results demonstrate that autocrine interactions between the v-sis oncoprotein and PDGF receptors within the early Golgi complex do not result in functional signal transduction. Another v-sis fusion protein was constructed by attaching the transmembrane domain and COOH-terminus of TGN38, a protein that localizes to the trans-Golgi network (TGN). This construct was primarily retained intracellularly, although some of the fusion protein reached the surface. Deletion of the COOH-terminal region of the TGN38 retention signal abrogated the TGN-localization, as evidenced by very prominent cell surface localization, and resulted in increased transforming activity. The behavior of the sis-TGN38 derivatives is discussed within the context of the properties of TGN38 itself, which is known to recycle from the cell surface to the TGN.

Transgenic mice harboring the int-2/Fgf-3 protooncogene under transcriptional control of the mouse mammary tumor virus (MMTV) promoter/enhancer exhibit a dramatic, benign hyperplasia of the mammary gland. In one int-2 transgenic line (TG.NX), this growth disturbance is evoked by pregnancy and regresses after parturition. Regression of hyperplastic mammary epithelium is less complete after successive pregnancies, and, within 10 months, most TG.NX mice stochastically develop mammary carcinomas that are transplantable in virgin, syngeneic mice. To identify genes that cooperate with int-2 in cell transformation, we infected TG.NX transgenic mice with MMTV. In a cohort of 14 animals, most mammary tumors represented clonal or oligoclonal outgrowths harboring one to five proviral MMTV integrants. Eight of 35 (23%) MMTV+ tumors exhibited proviral insertion at the Wnt-1 locus. No provirus was detected at the int-2, int-3, or Wnt-3 loci. By Southern analysis, two tumors had proviral insertions at the same genomic location, which was mapped to chromosome 15. Cloning of this int locus identified an additional member of the Wnt gene family. The predicted 389-amino acid protein is most closely related to zebrafish Wnt-10a (58% amino acid identity over 362 residues) and, based on homology analysis, was designated Wnt-10b. This newly discovered Wnt family member was expressed in the embryo and mammary gland of virgin but not pregnant mice and represents a candidate collaborating oncogene of int-2/Fgf-3 in the mammary epithelium.

The phorbol ester binding domain consists of a cysteine-rich region with a postulated consensus sequence for binding that includes 15 amino acids (Ahmed, S., Kozma, R., Lee, J., Monfries, C., Harden, N., and Lim, L. (1991) Biochem. J. 280, 233-241). In PKC zeta, the only PKC isoform lacking phorbol ester binding, this region differs in a single residue from the consensus (proline in position 11 of the motif). Restoration of this proline by site-directed mutagenesis of PKC zeta does not restore binding of either [3H]phorbol 12,13-dibutyrate or of the ultrapotent ligand [3H]bryostatin 1, suggesting that even a low affinity ligand interaction is absent. In addition, the vav and c-raf proto-oncogene products, proteins that possess cysteine-rich regions with high homology to PKC isozymes and other phorbol ester receptors, are unable to bind any of these ligands. Instead, ALL of these cysteine-rich regions bind zinc. Our results suggest that other amino acids besides those postulated for the consensus must be necessary for ligand binding and argue against direct modulation of PKC zeta, Vav, and c-Raf by phorbol esters.

Rep68 protein, encoded by adeno-associated virus type 2 (AAV), has been previously shown to bind to specific sequences within the viral genome and in human chromosome 19. The effect of AAV Rep protein on human cellular genes is of interest because AAV is being developed as a gene therapy vector. We have identified sequences related to the Rep recognition sequence in the AAV P5 promoter in or near the c-sis proto-oncogene and the genes coding for a hepatocyte glucose transporter, alpha-A-crystallin, and carcinoma marker GA733-1. The ability of Rep68 to bind to these sites was established by gel shift assays, and the effect of Rep68 on the expression of these genes was tested by semiquantitative reverse transcriptase PCR. Rep68 enhances the expression of the c-sis proto-oncogene, which codes for the B polypeptide of platelet-derived growth factor, a multifunctional growth factor that is involved in embryonic development, tissue regeneration, osteogenesis, fibrosis, atherosclerosis, and neoplasia.

CD44s (standard isoform) levels and hyaluronan-binding activity were investigated in Balb/c 3T3 cells and their derivatives transformed with ras or sis oncogenes as a function of serum concentration in the medium. 3T3 cells contained low levels of CD44 and did not bind hyaluronan when grown in medium containing 0.5 or 10% serum. In 5% serum, however, the cells had much higher levels of CD44 and were able to bind hyaluronan. CD44 levels also increased in 3T3 cells restimulated with either 5 or 10% serum after prior maintenance in low serum. In cells restimulated with 5% serum, high levels of CD44 were sustained for at least 72 hr. In cells restimulated with 10% serum, however, the increase in CD44 levels reverted by 48 hr. Transformation of 3T3 cells with ras (but not with sis) oncogene rendered CD44 levels insensitive to serum modulation: ras-transformed cells contained high levels of CD44 and bound hyaluronan at ALL serum concentrations and at ALL time points tested. Sis-transformed cells behaved like 3T3 cells in these modulatory changes. Platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF), when supplementing 0.5% serum, mimicked the effects of serum on the levels and hyaluronan-binding capacity of CD44 in 3T3 cells and the CD44-upregulating activity of serum was neutralized by incubation with anti-PDGF antibodies. These data demonstrate that serum factors, specifically PDGF, mediate regulation of CD44 levels in BAlb/c 3T3 cells and that transformation of 3T3 cells by ras renders CD44 expression insensitive to the modulating effects of serum in vitro. These results correlate with the metastatic capacity of these cells in vivo.