Related Experiment Videos

The ras oncoprotein and M-phase activity

I Daar1, A R Nebreda, N Yew

  • 1ABL-Basic Research Program, National Cancer Institute-Frederick Cancer Research and Development Center, MD 21701.

Science (New York, N.Y.)
|July 5, 1991
PubMed

Insights

Ras oncogene product (Ras) can trigger meiotic maturation and M-phase-promoting factor (MPF) in Xenopus oocytes, functioning in a parallel pathway to Mos. This Ras function in M-phase cell cycle is detectable via embryonic cleavage arrest assays.

Area of Science:

  • Cell Biology
  • Molecular Biology
  • Oncogenes

Background:

  • The mos proto-oncogene product (Mos) is crucial for meiotic maturation in Xenopus oocytes.
  • A parallel pathway to metaphase exists, independent of Mos.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the role of the ras oncogene product (Ras) in meiotic maturation and M-phase progression in Xenopus.
  • To determine if Ras can induce meiotic maturation and maintain M-phase arrest.

Main Methods:

  • Utilizing Xenopus oocytes and embryonic cell cleavage assays.
  • Assessing the induction of meiotic maturation and M-phase-promoting factor (MPF) levels.

Main Results:

  • Ras can induce meiotic maturation and high MPF levels in Xenopus oocytes, independent of Mos.
  • Ras, similar to Mos and cytostatic factor, arrests embryonic cell cleavage in mitosis and maintains high MPF levels.
  • Ras demonstrates function within the M phase of the cell cycle in Xenopus oocytes and embryos.

Conclusions:

  • Ras functions in the M phase of the cell cycle in Xenopus.
  • The embryonic cleavage arrest assay serves as a sensitive and rapid method for detecting Ras function in M-phase.
  • Ras represents a key regulator in the M-phase cell cycle, offering a parallel pathway to Mos-mediated maturation.

Related Concept Videos