C-ets-1 protooncogene expression alters the growth properties of immortalized rat fibroblasts

Ets family genes have been cloned and characterized from a variety of species ranging from human to Drosophila. The ets proteins encode transcription factors that activate transcription via specific binding to GGAA core sequence present in various promoter/enhancers. To investigate the role of ets protooncogene expression on the growth properties of rat embryo fibroblasts (REF), we constructed and introduced ets expression vectors into primary, as well as immortalized REF cells. The transfected cells contained multiple copies of the vector DNA, and the Northern blot analysis demonstrated overexpression of the c-ets-1-specific mRNA. Although the expression of the ets genes was unable to immortalize primary rat embryo fibroblasts, the expression of ets-1 in REF-1 cells enabled their growth in serum-free medium and effected tumorigenic activity in nude mice.