CORRELATION OF COLLAGEN-SYNTHESIS AND PROCOLLAGEN MESSENGER-RNA LEVELS WITH TRANSFORMATION IN RAT EMBRYO FIBROBLASTS

  • 1 January 1981
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 41  (3) , 830-838
Abstract
A line of normal rat embryo fibroblasts was transformed with N-methyl-N''-nitro-N-nitrosoguanidine (a chemical carcinogen), SV40 and polyoma virus (2 DNA viruses) and Rous sarcoma virus (an RNA tumor virus). The levels of collage synthesis and procollagen mRNA were compared in 13 lines selected after transformation. Collagen synthesis and procollagen mRNA levels were compared with the degree of transformation determined from morphology, saturation density, growth in agarose and tumorigenicity in nude mice. Each class of transformants had a characteristic level of collagen synthesis; this level correlated inversely with the degree of transformation of the rat embryo fibroblasts. In N-methyl-N''-nitro-N-nitrosoguanidine and SV40 transformants which were moderately transformed, collagen synthesis was hardly affected, but in polyoma virus and Rous sarcoma virus transformants, which were more severely transformed, collagen synthesis was 30-48% and 12-25%, respectively, of control levels. Type I procollagen mRNA activity measured in RNA from 9 lines by an in vitro translation assay also decreased with increasing severity of transformation. Procollagen mRNA levels were reduced to .apprx. 1/2 of control levels in 1 SV40 transformant and to 17-23% of controls in polyoma virus and Rous sarcoma virus transformants. In this series of rat fibroblast lines, transformation with different agents resulted in characteristic levels of collagen synthesis and collagen synthesis was most reduced in the cells which were most transformed by other criteria.

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