A novel combination of K-ras and myc amplification accompanied by point mutational activation of K-ras in a human lung cancer.

Amplifications of two oncogenes, c-K-ras-2 and c-myc, were found in a human lung giant cell carcinoma (LGCC) Lu-65, which is maintained in nude mice. The extent of c-K-ras-2 and myc amplifications were estimated to be 10- and 8-fold, respectively, by means of the Southern hybridization procedure. In addition, NIH3T3 cells were transformed by transfection of Lu-65 DNA and the transforming gene was identified as c-K-ras-2. c-K-ras-2 genes were cloned from a gene library of Lu-65 and a single point mutation causing a substitution of cysteine for glycine in codon 12 was found by DNA sequencing. It was concluded that the amplification of the c-myc and c-K-ras-2 genes are accompanied by point mutational activation of c-K-ras-2 in the human LGCC Lu-65. This is the first report of multiple gene amplification accompanied by a point mutation of oncogenes in human cancer cells, providing further support for the idea that co-operation of at least two activated cellular oncogenes is required for carcinogenesis.     

Chromosome localization of human ARH genes, a ras-related gene family

The human ARH genes (previously called RHO) share several properties with the ras gene family. Three members of the ARH family, the H6, H9, and H12 genes, have been localized to human chromosomes 2, 5, and 3, respectively. Analysis of DNAs from a rodent-human somatic cell hybrid panel demonstrates linkage of H6 to chromosome region 2p12----2pter and H9 to region 5q33----5qter. In situ chromosome hybridization also showed that the primary site for H9 is in the 5q31----qter region. The H12 gene was some-what difficult to localize using rodent-human hybrids because the probe detects a family of rodent genes as homologous to the human probe as in the human cognate gene. However, chromosome in situ hybridization revealed grains clustered in region 3p14----3p22 with a significant peak in band 3p21. We conclude that H6 is in 2p12----pter, H9 in 5q31----5qter, and H12 in 3p21.     

Cellular oncogenes (c-erb-A and c-erb-B) located on different chicken chromosomes can be transduced into the same retroviral genome.

Avian erythroblastosis virus has transduced two cellular genes, c-erb-A and c-erb-B. Using fractionated chicken chromosomes, we found that the two genes are located on different chromosomes in the chicken genome: c-erb-A is on a microchromosome, and c-erb-B is on a large chromosome. The locations of two other cellular oncogenes (c-fps and c-myb) were also determined: c-fps is on a microchromosome, and c-myb is on chromosome of an intermediate size. Our results suggest that avian erythroblastosis virus had transduced the two cellular genes independently, conforming to previous indications that cellular oncogenes are dispersed among multiple chromosomes in every species that has been examined.     

Tumorigenicity of fibroblast lines expressing the adenovirus E1a, cellular p53, or normal c-myc genes.

Cellular and viral oncogenes have been linked to the transformation of established cell lines in vitro, to the induction of tumors in vivo, and to the partial transformation or immortalization of primary cells. Based on the ability to cooperate with mutated ras oncogenes in the transformation of primary cells, the adenovirus E1a and cellular p53 genes have been assigned an immortalizing activity. It is demonstrated in this paper that the adenovirus type 5 E1a gene and simian virus 40 promoter-linked p53 cDNA are able to transform previously immortalized cells to a tumorigenic phenotype without a significant change in cell morphology. It is also shown that, when linked to a constitutive promoter, the normal mouse and human c-myc genes have the same transforming activity. Cells transformed by each of these oncogenes have an increased capacity to grow in the absence of growth factors and a limited anchorage-independent growth capability.     

Sublocalization of c-myb to 6q21----q23 by in situ hybridization and c-myb expression in a human teratocarcinoma with 6q rearrangements

We have sublocalized the human proto-oncogene c-myb by applying two different techniques: in situ hybridization of metaphase spreads and chromosome spot hybridization of flow-sorted chromosomes. For this we used a teratocarcinoma cell line carrying specific chromosome translocations involving the two chromosomes 6 and one chromosome 11. The distribution of the c-myb gene copies on the different translocation chromosomes revealed that c-myb is located in the region 6q21----q23. Because of the close proximity of the c-myb locus to the chromosomal breakpoints in the teratocarcinoma, we investigated whether c-myb was implicated in the development of this tumor. No rearrangement, deletion, or amplification of the gene was detected in the teratocarcinoma cells. Furthermore, the level of c-myb expression was comparable to that of other cell lines of nonhematopoietic origin. These results suggest that c-myb was not affected by the translocation and played no significant role in the development of this teratocarcinoma.     

Activation of a human c-K-ras oncogene

The human lung carcinomas PR310 and PR371 contain activated c-K-ras oncogenes. The oncogene of PR371 was found to present a mutation at codon 12 of the first coding exon which substitutes cysteine for glycine in the encoded p21 protein. We report here that the transforming gene of PR310 tumor contains a mutation in the second coding exon. An A----T transversion at codon 61 results in the incorporation of histidine instead of glutamine in the c-K-ras gene product. By constructing c-K-ras/c-H-ras chimeric genes we show that this point mutation is sufficient to confer transforming potential to ras genes, and that a hybrid ras gene coding for a protein mutant at both codons 12 and 61 is also capable of transforming NIH3T3 cells. The relative transforming potency of p21 proteins encoded by ras genes mutant at codons 12, 61 or both has been analyzed. Our studies also show that the coding exons of ras genes, including the fourth, can be interchanged and the chimeric p21 ras proteins retain their oncogenic ability in normal rodent established cell lines.     

Localization on pig chromosome 6 of markers GPI, APOE, and ENO1, carried by human chromosomes 1 and 19, using in situ hybridization

In the pig, the linkage group around the halothane gene (HAL), composed of S-GPI-HAL-H-A1BG-PGD, has been assigned to bands p1.2----q2.2 of chromosome 6. In man, ENO1-PGD and APOE-GPI constitute two syntenic groups situated on different chromosomes (1 and 19, respectively). Since GPI and PGD are linked in the pig, we have hybridized the human cDNA probes for ENO1 and APOE to pig chromosomes. These markers were assigned to pig chromosome 6, in the q2.2----q2.4 and cen----q2.1 regions, respectively, using in situ hybridization. Since GPI and APOE are situated in the same region, we combined the use of high resolution chromosome analysis and in situ hybridization to give a more precise localization in the q1.2 and q1.2----q2.1.2 regions of chromosome 6. A possible linear order of these genes is proposed.     

Differential loss of heterozygosity in familial, sporadic, and uremic hyperparathyroidism

Various genetic loci harboring oncogenes, tumor suppressor genes, and genes for calcium receptors have been implicated in the development of parathyroid tumors. We have carried out loss of heterozygosity (LOH) studies in chromosomes 1p, 1q, 3q, 6q, 11q, 13q, 15q, and X in a total of 89 benign parathyroid tumors. Of these, 28 were sporadic parathyroid adenomas from patients with no family history of the disease, 41 were secondary parathyroid tumors, 5 were from patients with a history of previous irradiation to the neck, 12 were from patients with a family history of hyperparathyroidism, and 3 were parathyroid tumors related to multiple endocrine neoplasia type 1 (MEN1). In addition, we determined the chromosomal localization of a second putative calcium-sensing receptor, CaS, for inclusion in the LOH studies. Based on analysis of somatic cell hybrids and fluorescent in situ hybridization to metaphase chromsomes, the gene for CaS was mapped to chromosomal region 2q21-q22. The following results were obtained from the LOH studies: (1) out of the 24 tumors that showed LOH, only 4 had more than one chromosomal region involved, (2) in the tumours from uremic patients, LOH of chromosome 3q was detected in a subset of the tumors, (3) LOH of the MEN1 region at 11q13 was the most common abnormality found in both MEN1-related and sporadic parathyroid tumours but was not a feature of the other forms of parathyroid tumors, (4) LOH in 1p and 6q was not as frequent as previously reported, and (5) tumor suppressor genes in 1q and X might have played a role, particularly on the X chromosome, in the case of familial parathyroid adenomas. We therefore conclude that the tumorigenesis of familial, sporadic, and uremic hyperparathyroidism involves different genetic triggers in a non-progressive pattern. Received: 28 October 1996 / Revised: 16 November 1996     

The ras gene family and human carcinogenesis

It has been well established that specific alterations in members of the ras gene family, H-ras, K-ras and N-ras, can convert them into active oncogenes. These alterations are either point mutations occurring in either codon 12, 13 or 61 or, alternatively, a 5- to 50-fold amplification of the wild-type gene. Activated ras oncogenes have been found in a significant proportion of all tumors but the incidence varies considerably with the tumor type: it is relatively frequent (20-40%) in colorectal cancer and acute myeloid leukemia, but absent or present only rarely in, for example, breast tumors and stomach cancer. No correlation has been found, yet, between the presence of absence of an activated ras gene and the clinical or biological features of the malignancy. The activation of ras oncogenes is only one step in the multistep process of tumor formation. The presence of mutated ras genes in benign polyps of the colon indicates that activation can be an early event, possibly even the initiating event. However, it can also occur later in the course of carcinogenesis to initiate for instance the transition of a benign polyp of the colon into a malignant carcinoma or to convert a primary melanoma into a metastatic tumor. Apparently, the activation of ras genes is not an obligatory event but when it occurs it can contribute to both early and advanced stages of human carcinogenesis.     

Mapping of Aldose Reductase Gene Sequences to Human Chromosomes 1, 3, 7, 9, 11, and 13

Aldose reductase (alditol:NAD(P)+ 1-oxidoreductase; EC 1.1.1.21) (AR) catalyzes the reduction of several aldehydes, including that of glucose, to the corresponding sugar alcohol. Using a complementary DNA clone encoding human AR, we mapped the gene sequences to human chromosomes 1, 3, 7, 9, 11, 13, 14, and 18 by somatic cell hybridization. By in situ hybridization analysis, sequences were localized to human chromosomes 1q32-q42, 3p12, 7q31-q35, 9q22, 11p14-p15, and 13q14-q21. As a putative functional AR gene has been mapped to chromosome 7 and a putative pseudogene to chromosome 3, the sequences on the other seven chromosomes may represent other active genes, non-aldose reductase homologous sequences, or pseudogenes.     

Six genes of the human connexin gene family coding for gap junctional proteins are assigned to four different human chromosomes

Connexin genes code for proteins that form cell-to-cell channels known as gap junctions. The genes for the known connexins 26, 32, 43, and 46 have been assigned to human chromosomes, 13, X, 6, and 13, respectively, by analysis of a panel of human-mouse somatic cell hybrids using rat cDNA probes. A pseudogene of connexin 43 that lacks an intron of the cx43 gene has been located on human chromosome 5. Furthermore, the genes of the two new connexins 37 and 40 have both been assigned to human chromosome 1. Thus the human chromosomes 1 and 13 each carry at least two different connexin genes. Their exact location on these chromosomes is not yet known. From our results subchromosomal assignments can be deduced for the human cx32 gene to Xq13-p11, the human cx37 gene as well as the human cx40 gene to 1pter-q12, and the human cx43 gene to 6q14-qter. The generation of the connexin multigene family from a hypothetical ancestral connexin gene is discussed.     

Phylogenetic tests of the hypothesis of block duplication of homologous genes on human chromosomes 6, 9, and 1

There are 10 gene families that have members on both human chromosome 6 (6p21.3, the location of the human major histocompatibility complex [MHC]) and human chromosome 9 (mostly 9q33-34). Six of these families also have members on mouse chromosome 17 (the mouse MHC chromosome) and mouse chromosome 2. In addition, four of these families have members on human chromosome 1 (1q21-25 and 1p13), and two of these have members on mouse chromosome 1. One hypothesis to explain these patterns is that members of the 10 gene families of human chromosomes 6 and 9 were duplicated simultaneously as a result of polyploidization or duplication of a chromosome segment ("block duplication"). A subsequent block duplication has been proposed to account for the presence of representatives of four of these families on human chromosome 1. Phylogenetic analyses of the 9 gene families for which data were available decisively rejected the hypothesis of block duplication as an overall explanation of these patterns. Three to five of the genes on human chromosomes 6 and 9 probably duplicated simultaneously early in vertebrate history, prior to the divergence of jawed and jawless vertebrates, and shortly after that, all four of the genes on chromosomes 1 and 9 probably duplicated as a block. However, the other genes duplicated at different times scattered over at least 1.6 billion years. Since the occurrence of these clusters of related genes cannot be explained by block duplication, one alternative explanation is that they cluster together because of shared functional characteristics relating to expression patterns.      

Malignant transformation of murine fibroblasts by a human c-Ha-ras-1 oncogene does not require a functional epidermal growth factor receptor.

Although mutations in ras genes are thought to be important for the development of about 20% of human tumors, almost nothing is known about the way in which these mutations lead to cellular transformation. The known biochemical properties of the 21-kilodalton ras proteins suggest that they may behave as G proteins, regulating the proliferation of cells in response to growth factor stimulation of a receptor. Although the putative receptor(s) has not been identified, several lines of evidence, in particular the fact that rodent cell lines containing ras oncogenes produce transforming growth factor alpha, have suggested that the epidermal growth factor (EGF) receptor is involved in ras transformation. Here we show that murine fibroblasts with no EGF receptors can be transformed to a completely malignant phenotype with a mutated ras gene. It appears, therefore, that the EGF receptor is not required for ras-mediated transformation of these cells.     

Progression of colorectal cancer is associated with multiple tumor suppressor gene defects but inhibition of tumorigenicity is accomplished by correction of any single defect via chromosome transfer.

Carcinogenesis is a multistage process that has been characterized both by the activation of cellular oncogenes and by the loss of function of tumor suppressor genes. Colorectal cancer has been associated with the activation of ras oncogenes and with the deletion of multiple chromosomal regions including chromosomes 5q, 17p, and 18q. Such chromosome loss is often suggestive of the deletion or loss of function of tumor suppressor genes. The candidate tumor suppressor genes from these regions are, respectively, MCC and/or APC, p53, and DCC. In order to further our understanding of the molecular and genetic mechanisms involved in tumor progression and, thereby, of normal cell growth, it is important to determine whether defects in one or more of these loci contribute functionally in the progression to malignancy in colorectal cancer and whether correction of any of these defects restores normal growth control in vitro and in vivo. To address this question, we have utilized the technique of microcell-mediated chromosome transfer to introduce normal human chromosomes 5, 17, and 18 individually into recipient colorectal cancer cells. Additionally, chromosome 15 was introduced into SW480 cells as an irrelevant control chromosome. While the introduction of chromosome 17 into the tumorigenic colorectal cell line SW480 yielded no viable clones, cell lines were established after the introduction of chromosomes 15, 5, and 18. Hybrids containing chromosome 18 are morphologically similar to the parental line, whereas those containing chromosome 5 are morphologically distinct from the parental cell line, being small, polygonal, and tightly packed. SW480-chromosome 5 hybrids are strongly suppressed for tumorigenicity, while SW480-chromosome 18 hybrids produce slowly growing tumors in some of the animals injected. Hybrids containing the introduced chromosome 18 but was significantly reduced in several of the tumor reconstitute cell lines. Introduction of chromosome 5 had little to no effect on responsiveness, whereas transfer ot chromosome 18 restored responsiveness to some degree. Our findings indicate that while multiple defects in tumor suppressor genes seem to be required for progression to the malignant state in colorectal cancer, correction of only a single defect can have significant effects in vivo and/or in vitro.     

The HL-60 transforming sequence: a ras oncogene coexisting with altered myc genes in hematopoietic tumors

The oncogene of the HL-60 human promyelocytic leukemia cell line has been passed serially through NIH/3T3 mouse fibroblasts. Oncogene-specific probes prepared from the resulting tertiary transfectants by molecular cloning have been used to show that loss of the transfected oncogene from NIH/3T3 cells correlates with reversion to nontransformed morphology. Analysis of cells transfected by the oncogenes of other tumors and tumor cell lines indicates that the transforming gene of the HL-60 leukemia cell line is closely related to oncogenes of a Burkitt's lymphoma, an acute myelogenous leukemia, an adenocarcinoma of the colon, a neuroblastoma, and two sarcomas. This oncogene is distantly related to the viral oncogenes of Kirsten and Harvey sarcoma viruses. It has been termed N-ras. The active N-ras oncogene coexists with altered versions of the myc oncogene in the HL-60 and AW Ramos human tumors. This suggests a multistep mechanism involving both ras and myc genes in the creation of these tumors.     

Gene mapping by chromosome spot hybridization

A method is described for the localization of cloned single-copy genes to flow-sorted chromosomes. Chromosomes were sorted directly onto nitrocellulose filters and the chromosomal DNA was subsequently hybridized with gene-specific radioactively labeled DNA probes. Mild aspiration of the filters during sorting was applied to collect the deflected chromosomes in a small spot. Sorting of 10,000-30,000 chromosomes was sufficient to detect gene-specific hybridization with single-copy DNA probes. Using this technique, we have sublocalized the human c-myb oncogene to 6q21-q23 by sorting translocated chromosomes with breakpoints in the q21 and q23 region of chromosome 6. Chromosome spot hybridization appears to be a rapid and simple method to assign cloned genes to chromosomes. Hybridization of an unlocalized gene probe to spots of chromosomes pre-enriched by velocity sedimentation can quickly narrow the choice of chromosomes which need to be sorted. Conversely, individual chromosomes in a flow karyotype can be identified by hybridizing sorted chromosomal DNA with chromosome-specific DNA probes.     

Chromosome mapping of the human RAS-related RAP1A, RAP1B, and RAP2 genes to chromosomes 1p12----p13, 12q14, and 13q34, respectively

Three human cDNAs encoding new RAS-related cDNAs, designated RAP1A, RAP1B, and RAP2, have been isolated previously. The encoded proteins are highly related to RAS in the effector region and share an overall identity with RAS of approximately 50%. Using the complete cDNAs or parts thereof as probes, each RAP gene has been localized on human chromosomes by in situ hybridization. The three genes RAP1A, RAP1B, and RAP2 have been assigned to chromosome bands 1p12----p13, 12q14, and 13q34, respectively.     

Oncogenic genes and human malignancy.

All vertebrates possess a series of genes which are homologs of the oncogenic genes of acute transforming retroviruses. Two lines of evidence suggest that these genes may play a role in the development of human malignancy: (1) DNA from a variety of human tumors transforms NIH 3T3 mouse fibroblasts and the transforming genes from a number of carcinomas, sarcomas, and hematological malignancies have been identified as members of a family of genes, the ras family, closely related to the oncogenic genes of the Harvey and Kirsten murine sarcoma viruses; and (2) correlations exist between the chromosomal localizations of certain oncogenes and the chromosomal breakpoints in specific translocations and deletions in certain human malignancies. In three separate hematological malignancies, alterations in more than one oncogenic gene may be involved in the neoplastic process.     

Chromosomal localization of 9 KOX zinc finger genes: physical linkages suggest clustering of KOX genes on chromosomes 12, 16, and 19

Nine KOX zinc finger genes were localized on four human chromosomes by in situ hybridization of cDNA probes to metaphase chromosomes. KOX1 (ZNF10), KOX11 (ZNF18), and KOX12 (ZNF19) were mapped to chromosome bands 12q24.33, 17p13-p12, and 16q22-q23, respectively. Six other KOX genes were localized on chromosome 19: KOX6 (ZNF14) and KOX13 (ZNF20) to 19p13.3-p13.2, KOX5 (ZNF13) and KOX22 (ZNF27) to 19q13.2-qter, and KOX24 (ZNF28) and KOX28 (ZNF30) to 19q13.4. Pulsed field gel electrophoresis experiments showed that the pairs of KOX genes found on the chromosome bands 12q24.33, 16q22-q23, 19p13.3-p13.2, or 19q13.3-qter lie within 200–300 kb DNA fragments. This suggests the existence of KOX gene clusters on these chromosomal bands.     

Two human genes encoding zinc finger proteins,ZNF12 (KOX 3) and ZNF 26 (KOX 20), map to chromosomes 7p22-p21 and 12q24.33, respectively

Summary Two members of the human zinc finger Krüppel family, ZNF 12 (KOX 3) and ZNF 26 (KOX 20), have been localized by somatic cell hybrid analysis and in situ chromosomal hybridization. The presence of individual human zinc finger genes in mouse-human hybrid DNAs was correlated with the presence of specific human chromosomes or regions of chromosomes in the corresponding cell hybrids. Analysis of such mouse-human hybrid DNAs allowed the assignment of the ZNF 12 (KOX 3) gene to chromosome region 7p. The ZNF 26 (KOX 20) gene segregated with chromosome region 12q13-qter. The zinc finger genes ZNF 12 (KOX 3) and ZNF 26 (KOX 20) were localized by in situ chromosomal hybridization to human chromosome regions 7p22-21 and 12q24.33, respectively. These genes and the previously mapped ZNF 24 (KOX 17) and ZNF 29 (KOX 26) genes, are found near fragile sites.