Related Experiment Video

Updated: Aug 11, 2026

Rapid Quantification of Mitogen-induced Blastogenesis in T Lymphocytes for Identifying Immunomodulatory Drugs
08:13

Rapid Quantification of Mitogen-induced Blastogenesis in T Lymphocytes for Identifying Immunomodulatory Drugs

Published on: December 27, 2016

Stability changes in pim-1 proto-oncogene mRNA after mitogen stimulation of normal lymphocytes

D Wingett1, R Reeves, N S Magnuson

  • 1Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Washington State University, Pullman 99164.

Journal of Immunology (Baltimore, Md. : 1950)
|November 15, 1991
PubMed

Insights

The protooncogene Pim-1 mRNA is transiently induced in activated lymphocytes, with its stability regulated by a specific motif. This regulation differs between germ cells and lymphocytes, impacting Pim-1 expression during immune cell activation.

Area of Science:

  • Immunology
  • Molecular Biology
  • Oncogenes

Background:

  • The serine/threonine kinase protooncogene Pim-1 plays a role in cell proliferation and survival.
  • Lymphocyte activation involves complex gene expression changes, including the regulation of protooncogenes.
  • Post-transcriptional regulation, such as mRNA stability, is a critical mechanism controlling gene expression.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the mRNA expression kinetics of Pim-1 in mitogen-stimulated bovine lymphocytes.
  • To determine the role of mRNA stability in regulating Pim-1 expression during lymphocyte activation.
  • To explore the contribution of the (UAUU)n motif to Pim-1 mRNA stability in different cell types.

Main Methods:

  • Quantitative analysis of Pim-1 mRNA levels in bovine peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) and lymph node lymphocytes following stimulation with Concanavalin A (Con A) and phorbol ester (PMA).
  • RNA half-life studies to assess Pim-1 mRNA stability at different time points post-stimulation.
  • Cycloheximide treatment to investigate protein synthesis-dependent degradation pathways.
  • Comparison of Pim-1 transcript stability between rat testes (germ cell-specific) and lymphocytes.

Main Results:

  • Mitogen stimulation (Con A and PMA) induced a transient 3.5-fold increase in Pim-1 mRNA in bovine lymphocytes within 4 hours, followed by a decrease.
  • Pim-1 mRNA half-life was significantly longer (approx. 80 min) at 4 hours post-stimulation compared to 17 hours (approx. 35 min), indicating regulated instability.
  • Cycloheximide treatment increased Pim-1 mRNA stability, suggesting a protein synthesis-dependent degradation mechanism.
  • A short, germ cell-specific rat Pim-1 transcript lacking the (UAUU)n motif was highly stable (>6 h), while the longer somatic transcript with the motif was less stable (approx. 130 min) in lymphocytes.

Conclusions:

  • Transient induction of Pim-1 gene expression is a normal feature of lymphocyte activation.
  • Pim-1 mRNA stability is dynamically regulated in lymphocytes during activation, likely through post-transcriptional mechanisms.
  • The message destabilizing (UAUU)n motif plays a significant role in differential regulation of Pim-1 mRNA stability between germ cells and lymphocytes.

More Related Videos

Yeast As a Chassis for Developing Functional Assays to Study Human P5314:57

Yeast As a Chassis for Developing Functional Assays to Study Human P53

Published on: August 4, 2019

Detection of Aggregation-Prone Behavior in Mutant P53 V157F Breast Cancer Cells Using Multipoint Thioflavin T Fluorescence04:56

Detection of Aggregation-Prone Behavior in Mutant P53 V157F Breast Cancer Cells Using Multipoint Thioflavin T Fluorescence

Published on: December 30, 2025

Related Concept Videos

DNA Damage can Stall the Cell Cycle02:36

DNA Damage can Stall the Cell Cycle

In response to DNA damage, cells can pause the cell cycle to assess and repair the breaks. However, the cell must check the DNA at certain critical stages during the cell cycle. If the cell cycle pauses before DNA replication, the cells will contain twice the amount of DNA. On the other hand, if cells arrest after DNA replication but before mitosis, they will contain four times the normal amount of DNA. With a host of specialized proteins at their disposal,cells must use the right protein at...
Mitogens and the Cell Cycle02:38

Mitogens and the Cell Cycle

Mitogens and their receptors play a crucial role in controlling the progression of the cell cycle. However, the loss of mitogenic control over cell division leads to tumor formation. Therefore, mitogens and mitogen receptors play an important role in cancer research. For instance, the epidermal growth factor (EGF) - a type of mitogen and its transmembrane receptor (EGFR), decides the fate of the cell's proliferation. When EGF binds to EGFR, a member of the ErbB family of tyrosine kinase...
Abnormal Proliferation02:23

Abnormal Proliferation

Under normal conditions, most adult cells remain in a non-proliferative state unless stimulated by internal or external factors to replace lost cells. Abnormal cell proliferation is a condition in which the cell's growth exceeds and is uncoordinated with normal cells. In such situations, cell division persists in the same excessive manner even after cessation of the stimuli, leading to persistent tumors. The tumor arises from the damaged cells that replicate to pass the damage to the daughter...
Interactions Between Signaling Pathways01:19

Interactions Between Signaling Pathways

Signaling cascades usually lack linearity. Multiple pathways interact and regulate one another, allowing cells to integrate and respond to diverse environmental stimuli.
Convergence and divergence, and cross-talk between signaling pathways
Two distinct signaling pathways can converge on a single functional unit, which may either be a single protein or a complex of proteins. The response is either functionally distinct or synergistic between the two pathways but different from the response...
DNA Damage Can Stall the Cell Cycle02:36

DNA Damage Can Stall the Cell Cycle

In response to DNA damage, cells can pause the cell cycle to assess and repair the breaks. However, the cell must check the DNA at certain critical stages during the cell cycle. If the cell cycle pauses before DNA replication, the cells will contain twice the amount of DNA. On the other hand, if cells arrest after DNA replication but before mitosis, they will contain four times the normal amount of DNA. With a host of specialized proteins at their disposal,cells must use the right protein at...
PI3K/mTOR/AKT Signaling Pathway01:22

PI3K/mTOR/AKT Signaling Pathway

The mammalian target of rapamycin  (mTOR) is a serine/threonine kinase that regulates growth, proliferation, and cell survival in response to hormones, growth factors, or nutrient availability. This kinase exists in two structurally and functionally distinct forms: mTOR complex 1  (mTORC1) and mTOR complex 2  (mTORC2). The first form (mTORC1) is composed of a rapamycin-sensitive Raptor and proline-rich Akt substrate, PRAS40. In contrast,  mTORC2 consists of a rapamycin-insensitive companion...