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Pigment-cell-specific genes from fibroblasts are transactivated after chromosomal transfer into melanoma cells

Journal Article · · Molecular and Cellular Biology
;  [1];  [2]
  1. Univ. of Illinois College of Medicine, Chicago, IL (United States)
  2. Roswell Park Memorial Inst., Buffalo, NY (United States)
Human and mouse fibroblast chromosomes carrying tyrosinase or b-locus genes were introduced, by microcell hybridization, into pigmented Syrian hamster melanoma cells, and the microcell hybrids were tested for transactivation of the fibroblast tyrosinase and b-locus genes. By using species-specific PCR amplification to distinguish fibroblast and melanoma cDNAs, it was demonstrated that the previously silent fibroblast tyrosinase and b-locus genes were transactivated following chromosomal transfer into pigmented melanoma cells. However, transactivation of the mouse fibroblast tyrosinase gene was unstable in microcell hybrid subclones and possibly dependent on a second fibroblast locus that could have segregated in the subclones. This second locus was not necessary for transactivation of the fibroblast b-locus gene, thus demonstrating noncoordinate transactivation of fibroblast tyrosinase and b-locus genes. Transactivation of the fibroblast tyrosinase gene in microcell hybrids apparently is dependent on the absence of a putative fibroblast extinguisher locus for tyrosinase gene expression, which presumably is responsible for the extinction of pigmentation in hybrids between karyotypically complete fibroblasts and melanoma cells. 46 refs., 5 figs., 2 tabs.
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE
OSTI ID:
577131
Journal Information:
Molecular and Cellular Biology, Journal Name: Molecular and Cellular Biology Journal Issue: 2 Vol. 14; ISSN 0270-7306; ISSN MCEBD4
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English

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