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Junctional intercellular communication is cooperatively inhibited by oncogenes in transformation
R Azarnia1, M Mitcho, D Shalloway
1Department of Physiology and Biophysics, University of Miami School of Medicine, Florida 33101.
Oncogene
|October 1, 1989
Summary
The cellular src (c-src) and adenovirus E1A genes cooperate to reduce cell communication, contributing to cell transformation. This cooperative loss of communication is key to understanding oncogene complementation in cancer development.
Area of Science:
- Molecular Biology
- Cell Biology
- Oncology
Background:
- Cellular src (c-src) and adenovirus E1A are oncogenes implicated in cell transformation.
- Junctional cell-to-cell communication is crucial for regulating cell growth and behavior.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the combined effects of c-src and E1A on junctional cell-to-cell communication.
- To elucidate the role of communication loss in oncogene cooperation and cell transformation.
Main Methods:
- NIH3T3 cells were transfected with c-src and/or adenovirus E1A genes.
- Junctional permeability was quantified to assess cell-to-cell communication.
Main Results:
- Neither c-src nor E1A alone completely transformed NIH3T3 cells.
- Co-transfection with both c-src and E1A resulted in significant cell transformation.
- Both genes individually reduced junctional communication, with a synergistic decrease when combined.
Conclusions:
- The cooperative transformation by c-src and E1A is linked to a synergistic reduction in junctional cell-to-cell communication.
- Loss of junctional communication is a critical factor in the decontrol of cell growth during transformation.
- This finding provides a mechanistic explanation for the complementation of these oncogenes in carcinogenesis.