Expression of proto-oncogenes in embryonic, adult, and transformed tissue of Xiphophorus (Teleostei: Poeciliidae).

Abstract

In Xiphophorus the causative, primary cellular oncogene for melanoma formation has been assigned by classical genetics to a sex-chromosomal locus, designated Tu. Activation of Tu was proposed to be the result of the elimination of Tu-specific regulatory genes which normally suppress the transforming function in the non-tumorous state. In order to understand the role which known proto-oncogenes might play in this process, we have analysed the expression of src, erb A, erb B, ras, abl, sis and mil related genes from Xiphophorus during embryogenesis, in non-tumorous organs and in melanoma cells. For src, ras, erb B and sis a differential expression during embryogenesis and/or in normal organs was detected, with preferential expression of src in neural tissues, a high abundance of sis transcripts in an embryonal epitheloid cell line and of erbB transcripts in the head nephros. In melanoma cells ras, src and a v-erb B related gene were found to be expressed. The src gene most likely is more involved in secondary processes during tumor progression, while the expression of the v-erb B related gene might be transformation-specific because recently such a sequence was found to map to the close vicinity of the Tu-locus.

• Authors: W Mäueler, F Raulf, M Schartl
• Journal: Oncogene (Oncogene) Vol. 2 Issue 5 Pg. 421-30 (May 1988) ISSN: 0950-9232 [Print] England
• PMID: 3374960 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Chemical References

• RNA, Messenger
• RNA, Neoplasm

Topics

• Animals
• Fish Diseases (genetics)
• Fishes (genetics, growth & development)
• Gene Expression Regulation
• Melanoma (genetics, veterinary)
• Protein Biosynthesis
• Proto-Oncogenes
• RNA, Messenger (genetics)
• RNA, Neoplasm (genetics)
• Tissue Distribution
• Transcription, Genetic