Rat c-raf oncogene activation by a rearrangement that produces a fused protein.

In a previous study, activated rat c-raf was detected by an NIH 3T3 cell transfection assay, and a rearrangement was demonstrated in the 5' half of the sequence of the gene. In the present study, the cDNAs of normal and activated rat c-raf were analyzed. Results showed that the activated c-raf gene is transcribed to produce a fused mRNA, in which the 5' half of the sequence is replaced by an unknown rat sequence. This mRNA codes a fused c-raf protein. The normal and activated c-raf cDNAs were each connected to the long terminal repeat of Rous sarcoma virus and transfected into NIH 3T3 cells. Only the activated form had transforming activity. We conclude that the rearrangement is responsible for the activation of c-raf.     

Identification by a random linker insertion method of a region which suppresses the transforming activity of the raf oncogene

Activation mechanism of raf oncogene was studied by applying in vitro mutagenesis to its cDNA. Previous studies suggested the presence of an activation suppressing sequence in the amino-terminal half of c-raf product. Loss of the sequence by genetic rearrangement was presumed to convert c-raf to possess transforming activity. To identify such sequence, we prepared cDNA mutants by random linker insertion. Synthetic oligonucleotide linker was inserted into the plasmid containing cDNA at a single and random site. Coupling two different mutants, in-frame deletion mutants were constructed systematically. Analysis of these deletion mutants revealed a region, the loss of which made c-raf activated.     

Insulin and platelet-derived growth factor stimulate phosphorylation of the c-raf product at serine and threonine residues in intact cells

We have examined the phosphorylation of the serine threonine kinase, the product of c-raf proto-oncogene in response to insulin or platelet-derived growth factor in intact cells. Both insulin and platelet-derived growth factor stimulated phosphorylation of the c-raf protein about 2- to 3-fold. The phosphorylation occurred exclusively on serine and threonine residues; phosphotyrosine was not detected. In immune-complex kinase assays, treatment with insulin, and platelet-derived growth factor increased autophosphorylation of the c-raf kinase, suggesting activation of its kinase activity. To investigate whether the phosphorylation of the c-raf protein in intact cells results from an autophosphorylation event or from the phosphorylation by other cellular kinase(s), we replaced lysine 375 in the putative ATP-binding domain of the c-raf protein with alanine using oligonucleotide site-directed mutagenesis and expressed the mutated protein in NIH3T3 cells. The substitution resulted in the inactivation of the serine/threonine-specific autophosphorylation in immune-complex kinase assays. In intact cells, however, although phosphorylation of the mutant protein in response to insulin and platelet-derived growth factor occurred to a lesser extent than that of the wild-type protein, the phosphopeptide maps were indistinguishable. These results suggest that serine threonine phosphorylation might be responsible for the activation of c-raf kinase upon treatment of cells with insulin and platelet-derived growth factor, and most of the phosphate associated with the c-raf protein results from its phosphorylation by as yet uncharacterized cellular serine/threonine kinase(s).     

Uniform response of c-raf expression to differentiation induction and inhibition of proliferation in a rat rhabdomyosarcoma cell line

The clonal rat rhabdomyosarcoma cell line BA-HAN-1C is composed of proliferating mononuclear cells, some of which spontaneously fuse to terminally differentiated myotube-like giant cells. Both the induction of differentiation by retinoic acid (RA) and by sodium butyrate (NaBut), as well as the inhibition of proliferation by fetal calf serum (FCS)-depleted medium uniformly resulted in the same effects. There was a significant (p less than 0.001) inhibition of proliferation and induction of cellular differentiation, as evidenced by a significant (p less than 0.05) increase in creatine kinase activity. Furthermore, after exposure to RA-supplemented or FCS-depleted medium, a significant (p less than 0.001) increase in the number of myotube-like giant cells was observed. These effects were preceded by a uniform enhancement of c-raf mRNA expression, which became evident 6 h after exposure to RA, NaBut and FCS-depleted media. C-raf mRNA expression persisted at an elevated level throughout the observation period of 5 days after exposure to RA or NaBut, whereas the increased expression of c-raf mRNA observed after FCS-depletion declined near to the basal level after only 24 h. Furthermore, a transient c-fos mRNA expression was observed 15 and 30 min after exposure to RA-supplemented and FCS-depleted medium but not after exposure to NaBut. The present results suggest a possible role of c-raf in the regulation of differentiation and proliferation of this cell line. Since all our experiments with RA, NaBut and FCS-depletion resulted in an early peak of c-raf mRNA expression, it is suggested that this early peak may be sufficient to trigger events crucial for differentiation and proliferation of BA-HAN-1C tumor cells.     

A 29 kDa GTP-binding protein expressed in mouse brain, lung, kidney, spleen and transformed NIH3T3 cells

A novel 29 kDa GTP-binding protein has been detected in mouse brain, kidney, lung and spleen. The binding property is specific for guanine nucleotides, and the binding activity for GTP is retained after transfer of the 29 kDa protein to a nitrocellulose membrane. The 29 kDa protein is also expressed in NIH3T3 cells transformed by activated human c-Ha-ras, hst, ret and c-raf. The 29 kDa protein present constitutively in some mouse tissues is possibly involved in some cellular signal transduction relevant to the function of these tissues. In addition, its function may play a role in phenotype of transformed cells.     

Interleukin-3 and granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor mediate rapid phosphorylation and activation of cytosolic c-raf.

Interleukin-3 (IL-3) and granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor induce the rapid phosphorylation of the c-raf protein in the growth factor-dependent FDC-P1 and DA-3 murine myeloid cell lines. Furthermore, immunoprecipitates of c-raf isolated from growth factor-stimulated cells demonstrate a marked increase in intrinsic protein kinase activity as measured in vitro. IL-3 and granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor induce phosphorylation of c-raf at both serine and tyrosine residues. Antiphosphotyrosine immunoprecipitates from IL-3-stimulated cells demonstrate the rapid and coordinate phosphorylation of both c-raf and a protein co-migrating with the 140-kDa putative IL-3 receptor component. Collectively, the findings of rapid and coordinate ligand-induced phosphorylation of a potential IL-3 growth factor receptor component and cytoplasmic c-raf with concomitant c-raf activation provide a cogent sequential molecular model for linking external growth stimuli to intracellular signal transduction events.     

Expression of ssDNA in mammalian cells

Antisense therapy involves the use of antisense oligonucleotides for altering targeted gene function. However, the low efficiency of cell delivery of antisense oligonucleotides has limited the efficacy of antisense therapeutic approaches. RNA-based antisense or ribozyme oligonucleotides can be either synthesized endogenously (e.g., by a viral vector) or delivered exogenously. However, there is presently no vector delivery system available for DNA-based oligonucleotides. Recently, a novel ssDNA expression vector that can generate intracellularly any ssDNA molecule, such as antisense oligonucleotide or DNA enzyme, has been developed in our laboratory. Here we describe an improved expression vector based on the first-generation two-vector system. To test this new expression vector, we chose to express a single-stranded "10-23" DNA enzyme targeting c-raf mRNA in the human lung carcinoma A549 cell line. After introduction into cells by transient transfection, c-raf-cleaving DNA enzymes produced by this expression vector can significantly suppress the expression of c-raf mRNA. Furthermore, the expressed c-raf DNA enzymes induced cell apoptosis, as indicated by genomic DNA fragmentation assay. Our study further demonstrates the feasibility of using this novel ssDNA expression technology to produce intracellularly any sequence of interest, including antisense oligonucleotides and DNA enzyme molecules.     

Induction of transformation and DNA synthesis after microinjection of raf proteins.

Full-length and N-terminal deletion mutants of human c-raf-1 cDNA were cloned into Escherichia coli expression plasmids. Bacterially expressed c-raf proteins were purified by anion-exchange, gel filtration, and affinity chromatography. Microinjection of mutant c-raf proteins into G0-arrested NIH 3T3 cells induced DNA synthesis and morphological transformation, whereas microinjection of full-length c-raf had no effect. The amino terminus of the raf protein has an important negative regulatory influence; alteration of this region resulted in increased kinase activity and oncogenicity.     

Activation of human c-raf-1 by replacing the N-terminal region with different sequences.

Two transformants of NIH 3T3 cells, obtained by the transfection of human colon cancer and normal colon DNAs, contained activated c-raf-1. In both the activated c-raf-1, the 5' half of the c-raf-1 sequence was replaced by sequences other than c-raf-1 as a result of recombinations which occurred at the intron between exons 7 and 8. It was suggested, however, that these recombinations, which conferred the transforming activity on the c-raf-1, occurred during the transfection. In one case analyzed, characteristic sequences were found near the breakpoint and these may be involved in the recombination. It was found, upon analysing the structure of the cDNA derived from one of the activated c-raf-1, that fused mRNA had been transcribed from the recombined gene comprising the non-raf gene and c-raf-1. The mRNA possibly encodes a fused protein. One cDNA clone was derived from alternatively spliced mRNA, although its physiological role is unclear. On comparing the structure of the two human activated c-raf-1 and the rat activated c-raf which we have reported previously, it was revealed that, in these three cases, the sequences joined to the truncated c-raf(-1)1 were different. It was suggested from data which we and others have previously reported that various sequences could be capable of activating c-raf(-1) by replacing its 5' half.     

The complete coding sequence of the human A-raf-1 oncogene and transforming activity of a human A-raf carrying retrovirus.

The complete 606 amino acid sequence of the human A-raf oncogene has been deduced from the 2453 nucleotide sequence of a human T cell cDNA. A cysteine-rich region located near the amino terminus, which is highly conserved in A-raf and c-raf, shows significant homology with protein kinase C. A 5' deleted fragment of the cDNA has been incorporated into a murine retrovirus which endows the virus with the ability to transform cells in vivo and in vitro. Functionally, human A-raf is similar to v-raf and v-mos in that transformation is independent of ras gene function.     

T cell antigen receptor engagement stimulates c-raf phosphorylation and induces c-raf-associated kinase activity via a protein kinase C-dependent pathway

The c-raf kinase has been shown to be activated following stimulation of several tyrosine kinase growth factor receptors. We examined changes in c-raf following engagement of the T cell receptor for antigen (TCR), a stimulus which activates both a non-receptor tyrosine kinase and protein kinase C (PKC). We found that activation of the T-cell receptor on the T cell hybridoma 2B4 causes a rapid and stoichiometric hyperphosphorylation of c-raf and an increase in c-raf-associated kinase activity. Phosphoamino acid analysis showed that the phosphorylation was entirely on serine residues. High-resolution phosphopeptide mapping showed the appearance of a single major new phosphopeptide with TCR stimulation. That phosphopeptide was shown to comigrate with the major new phosphopeptide induced in response to phorbol ester. When cells were depleted of PKC by pretreatment with high concentrations of phorbol ester, TCR stimulation was no longer capable of inducing c-raf-associated kinase activity. To determine whether activation of the tyrosine kinase alone would activate c-raf, we examined the 2B4 variant cell line FL.8. In response to Thy-1 stimulation, these cells activate the tyrosine kinase but not protein kinase C due to a deficiency in TCR eta chain expression. We found that in contrast to Thy-1 stimulation of 2B4 cells, stimulation of FL.8 cells does not lead to the induction of c-raf-associated kinase activity, although phorbol ester activates the kinase to an equivalent degree in both cells. We conclude that T cell receptor activation of c-raf occurs via phosphorylation by the serine/threonine kinase PKC. Activation of c-raf through PKC represents a mechanism distinct from that reported for tyrosine kinase growth factor receptors.     

Recognition properties of peptides hydropathically complementary to residues 356-375 of the c-raf protein

Two peptides with hydropathic complementarity to residues 356-375 of the c-raf protein were synthesized to determine if they recognize the raf-(356-375) peptide as well as the entire protein. One peptide was deduced from the complementary mRNA for the raf protein corresponding to residues 356-375, whereas the other was deduced solely from the amino acid sequence of the 20-mer segment using a computer program able to generate peptide sequences with hydropathic complementarity to a given sequence. Specific binding of both peptides to the raf 20-mer segment was demonstrated when either the raf 20-mer peptide or the complementary peptides were immobilized on a column. Binding affinities were in the millimolar-micromolar range. Identical binding properties were observed with peptides synthesized with either all D- or all L-amino acids, suggesting a lack of conformational dependence. Binding was also unaffected by the presence of 8 M urea or detergents, was dependent on solvent characteristics of pH and ionic strength, and was abolished by the presence of competing peptides in the eluting buffer. Recognition between raf complementary peptides was accompanied by spectral changes in the far and near UV region, as monitored by circular dichroism. Proteolytic degradation was retarded by the binding of these peptides. Once immobilized on a column, these peptides proved useful for the isolation by affinity chromatography of a recombinant c-raf protein from an Escherichia coli crude cell extract.     

Constitutive localization of the gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) receptor to low density membrane microdomains is necessary for GnRH signaling to ERK

Specialized membrane microdomains known as lipid rafts are thought to contribute to G-protein coupled receptor (GPCR) signaling by organizing receptors and their cognate signaling molecules into discrete membrane domains. To determine if the GnRHR, an unusual member of the GPCR superfamily, partitions into lipid rafts, homogenates of alpha T3-1 cells expressing endogenous GnRHR or Chinese hamster ovary cells expressing an epitope-tagged GnRHR were fractionated through a sucrose gradient. We found the GnRHR and c-raf kinase constitutively localized to low density fractions independent of hormone treatment. Partitioning of c-raf kinase into lipid rafts was also observed in whole mouse pituitary glands. Consistent with GnRH induced phosphorylation and activation of c-raf kinase, GnRH treatment led to a decrease in the apparent electrophoretic mobility of c-raf kinase that partitioned into lipid rafts compared with unstimulated cells. Cholesterol depletion of alpha T3-1 cells using methyl-beta-cyclodextrin disrupted GnRHR but not c-raf kinase association with rafts and shifted the receptor into higher density fractions. Cholesterol depletion also significantly attenuated GnRH but not phorbol ester-mediated activation of extracellular signal-related kinase (ERK) and c-fos gene induction. Raft localization and GnRHR signaling to ERK and c-Fos were rescued upon repletion of membrane cholesterol. Thus, the organization of the GnRHR into low density membrane microdomains appears critical in mediating GnRH induced intracellular signaling.     

Co-transfection of normal NIH/3T3 DNA and retroval LTR sequences: a novel strategy for the detection of potential c-onc genes.

Morphologically transformed, tumorigenic cell lines were obtained after co-transfecting normal NIH/3T3 DNA and cloned 3'-long terminal repeat sequences of Moloney leukemia virus (Mo-LTR) onto NIH/3T3 recipient cells. In four such cell lines the malignant phenotype was found to be associated with single and specific Mo-LTR integration sites that were retained after serial passages through NIH/3T3 and rat 208F cells, indicating that Mo-LTR sequences are linked to the activated oncogenes. In one of these clones the activated transforming gene was identified as c-raf, the cellular homologue of a recently described retroviral oncogene. This finding not only demonstrates that the mouse c-raf gene can be activated to exhibit an oncogenic potential but also that the approach chosen in this study is suitable for the detection of potential c-onc genes. In contrast to this clone, the activated transforming genes in other cell lines appear to be different from 19 previously isolated v-onc and c-onc genes. These results demonstrate the potential of the established transformation system for the detection and isolation of previously unidentified c-onc genes.     

Dsi-1, a region with frequent proviral insertions in Moloney murine leukemia virus-induced rat thymomas.

Dsi-1 is a region of chromosomal DNA that underwent proviral insertion in 3 of 24 Moloney murine leukemia virus-induced rat thymomas. In one of these tumors, a provirus is also integrated adjacent to the proto-oncogene c-myc. The proviruses in Dsi-1 have been characterized and appear to be complete. The proviruses were located within a 2-kilobase region that contained four prominent DNase I-hypersensitive sites. These hypersensitive sites were observed in Moloney murine leukemia virus-induced thymomas but not in NRK cells. The region of Dsi-1 immediately 3' to the insertions cross-hybridized with human and chicken DNA, indicating that it contains highly conserved sequences. No evidence could be found for the expression of this highly conserved region. Dsi-1 was mapped to mouse chromosome 4. This location demonstrates that Dsi-1 is different from 16 of the known proto-oncogenes (c-abl, c-erbA c-erbB, c-ets-1, c-ets-2, c-fes, c-fos, c-myb, c-myc, c-raf, A-raf, c-Ha-ras, c-Ki-ras, N-ras, c-sis, and c-src) and 12 cellular regions of tumor-associated integrations in retrovirus-induced tumors (c-erbB, Fis-1, int-1, int-2, Mis-1/pvt-1, Mlvi-1, Mlvi-2, c-mos, c-myb, c-myc, Pim-1, and c-Ha-ras). Hybridization experiments indicated that Dsi-1 is probably different from five additional proto-oncogenes (c-fgr, c-fms, c-mos, neu, and c-yes) and from two additional frequent integration regions (lck and Mlvi-3).     

B-raf, a new member of the raf family, is activated by DNA rearrangement.

Complementary DNA clones of a putative transforming gene were isolated from NIH 3T3 cells transformed with human Ewing sarcoma DNA. The gene was termed B-raf because it is related to but distinct from c-raf and A-raf. It appears that substitution in the amino-terminal portion of the normal B-raf protein confers transforming activity to the gene.     

Identification within the simian virus 40 genome of a chromosomal loop attachment site that contains topoisomerase II cleavage sites.

We demonstrate that the simian virus 40 genome contains a single MAR (matrix association region) that maps within a large T-antigen coding region (nucleotides 4071 to 4377). This region contains topoisomerase II cleavage sites, exhibits sequence similarity with cellular MARs, and recognizes the same evolutionarily conserved, abundant nuclear binding sites seen by cellular MARs.