[Expression of oncogenes in the rat liver under conditions of template biosynthesis uncoupling by sublethal doses of...

Injection of sublethal doses of cycloheximide (CHI) to rats allowed to reveal three stages in the dynamics of protein synthesis: 1) suppression stage (0-6 hrs), 2) regeneration stage (6-12 hrs), 3) stimulation stage (6-12 hrs). RNA-polymerases are activated when protein synthesis is inhibited. The stimulation stage precedes the activation of DNA replication. This model of DNA replication induced by CHI is specified by the expression of various cell oncogenes (c-fos, c-mys, p53, c-Ha-ras, c-sis, c-src). The investigated oncogenes may be divided into 4 groups according to the character of their expression. 1. Oncogenes (c-fos, c-myc) are switched on step-by-step 1 hour after CHI injection, the superexpression of the oncogenes being comparatively short. Maximum expression of c-fos and c-myc oncogenes is registered after 2-3 hours, respectively. 2./p53 oncogene expression increases within a few hours' after CHI injection and manifests itself at all three stages of protein synthesis till DNA replication. 3. c-Ha-ras oncogene is expressed at a high level in control and experimental animals. 4. Expression of c-sis and c-src oncogenes are absent both before and after CHI injection. Sublethal doses of CHI have the same effect on oncogene expression as the lethal ones.