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Title: Molecular events basic to cellular radiation response. Progress report, October 1, 1978-September 30, 1979

Technical Report ·
DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/5247027· OSTI ID:5247027

Research during the past year has been directed at induction of specific protein synthesis in differentiated mammalian cells. The Primer Hypothesis for the regulation of eukaryotic gene expression suggests that RNA transcription is primed by small molecular weight RNA. It predicts that albumin mRNA transcription in a 3T3 fibroblast, which ordinarily does not produce albumin, can be initiated by RNA primer present in liver cells. In experiments this past year, mouse fibroblasts were incubated with mouse liver RNA. These cells did indeed produce albumin which was detected by counterimmunoelectrophoresis. Confluent 3T3 cell cultures were incubated with mouse liver RNA and polylysine in serum free media. Counterimmunoelectrophoresis (CIEP) of the dialyzed and lyophilized media against mouse albumin antisera gave a single precipitin line indicating albumin snthesis by the fibroblasts. The synthesis of this protein immunologicaly similar to albumin required new albumin mRNA transcription since it was not synthesized in the presence of actinomycin, could be found in media which had been incubated with RNA significantly smaller in size than albumin mRNA, and was synthesized in the absence of added poly A containing RNA. These results represent the first reported demonstration that RNA can be taken up from the media by cells in culture, and can induce in those cells the production of a differentiated cell product not ordinarily synthesized by those cells, i.e, a change in the normal transcription pattern in those cells.

Research Organization:
Beth Israel Hospital, Boston, MA (USA). Div. of Nuclear Medicine
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE Office of Environment, Safety and Health (EH)
DOE Contract Number:
AC02-80EV10327
OSTI ID:
5247027
Report Number(s):
DOE/EV/10327-1; TRN: 80-013927
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English