Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 1, 2026

Deficient Pms2, ERCC1, Ku86, CcOI in Field Defects During Progression to Colon Cancer
28:15

Deficient Pms2, ERCC1, Ku86, CcOI in Field Defects During Progression to Colon Cancer

Published on: July 28, 2010

Expression of individual ras proteins in normal and neoplastic colon

S Pories1, P Greathead, G Steele

  • 1HARVARD UNIV,NEW ENGLAND DEACONESS HOSP,SCH MED,DEPT SURG,CANC BIOL LAB,50 BINNEY ST,BOSTON,MA 02215.

International Journal of Oncology
|May 18, 2011
PubMed

Insights

This study introduces ras antibodies for Western blot analysis, enabling characterization of ras protein expression in various cell types. Researchers identified differential ras profiles in gastrointestinal tissues, aiding in understanding neoplastic progression.

Area of Science:

  • Molecular Biology
  • Oncology
  • Biochemistry

Background:

  • Ras proteins are key regulators of cell signaling pathways.
  • Aberrant ras signaling is implicated in various cancers.
  • Understanding differential ras expression is crucial for cancer research.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To develop and validate a panel of ras antibodies for Western blot analysis.
  • To characterize the expression patterns of individual ras members (H-, N-, and K-ras) in different cell populations.
  • To investigate the role of differential ras expression in normal and neoplastic gastrointestinal tissues.

Main Methods:

  • Western blot analysis using a panel of four ras-specific antibodies.
  • Antibody specificity validation in NIH/3T3 transfectants and human cell lines.
  • One-dimensional gel electrophoresis to assess protein migration.
  • Analysis of ras expression in rat and human gastrointestinal tissues.

Main Results:

  • Established specificity of antibodies for H-, N-, and K-ras proteins.
  • Identified distinct migration patterns for K-ras p21 compared to H- and N-ras.
  • Revealed over-representation of K-ras p21 in rat stomach and colon epithelium.
  • Observed conserved differential ras profiles in human colon mucosa and tumors.

Conclusions:

  • The developed ras antibody panel effectively characterizes individual ras member expression.
  • Differential ras expression is a feature of normal gastrointestinal tissues and is maintained in colon tumors.
  • This approach facilitates the dissection of ras proto-oncoprotein expression and mutational events in neoplastic progression.

More Related Videos

A Genetically Engineered Mouse Model of Sporadic Colorectal Cancer06:01

A Genetically Engineered Mouse Model of Sporadic Colorectal Cancer

Published on: July 6, 2017

Optimization of a Multiplex RNA-based Expression Assay Using Breast Cancer Archival Material11:12

Optimization of a Multiplex RNA-based Expression Assay Using Breast Cancer Archival Material

Published on: August 1, 2018

Related Concept Videos

The Ras Gene02:38

The Ras Gene

The Ras-gene-encoded proteins are regulators of signaling pathways controlling cell proliferation, differentiation, or cell survival. The Ras-gene family in humans constitutes three primary members—the HRas, NRas, and KRas. These genes code for four functionally distinct yet closely related proteins—the HRas, NRas, KRas4A, and KRas4B. The involvement of mutant Ras genes in human cancer was first discovered in 1982 and is among the most common causes of human tumorigenesis.
Ras is a superfamily...
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...
The Ras Gene02:38

The Ras Gene

The Ras-gene-encoded proteins are regulators of signaling pathways controlling cell proliferation, differentiation, or cell survival. The Ras-gene family in humans constitutes three primary members—the HRas, NRas, and KRas. These genes code for four functionally distinct yet closely related proteins—the HRas, NRas, KRas4A, and KRas4B. The involvement of mutant Ras genes in human cancer was first discovered in 1982 and is among the most common causes of human tumorigenesis.
Ras is a superfamily...
Tumor Progression02:07

Tumor Progression

Tumor progression is a phenomenon where the pre-formed tumor acquires successive mutations to become clinically more aggressive and malignant. In the 1950s, Foulds first described the stepwise progression of cancer cells through successive stages.
Colon cancer is one of the best-documented examples of tumor progression. Early mutation in the APC gene in colon cells causes a small growth on the colon wall called a polyp. With time, this polyp grows into a benign, pre-cancerous tumor. Further...
Small GTPases - Ras and Rho01:24

Small GTPases - Ras and Rho

Ras and Rho are small monomeric GTPases that act downstream of receptor tyrosine kinase (RTK) and regulate various cellular processes. These GTPases switch between active and inactive states by binding to guanine nucleotides.
Three regulatory proteins control their activity:
Cancer-Critical Genes I: Proto-oncogenes01:33

Cancer-Critical Genes I: Proto-oncogenes

Genes usually encode proteins necessary for the proper functioning of a healthy cell. Mutations can often cause changes to the gene expression pattern, thereby altering the phenotype.
When the function of certain critical genes, especially those involved in cell cycle regulation and cell growth signaling cascades, gets disrupted, it upsets the cell cycle progression. Such cells with unchecked cell cycles start proliferating uncontrollably and eventually develop into tumors.
Such genes that act...