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A novel early growth response gene rapidly induced by fibroblast, epithelial cell and lymphocyte mitogens

V P Sukhatme1, S Kartha, F G Toback

  • 1Department of Human Genetics, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Oncogene Research
|September 1, 1987
PubMed

Insights

Researchers identified a novel early growth response (egr) gene crucial for cell proliferation. This gene, like c-myc and c-fos, is rapidly induced by mitogens across various cell types, suggesting a key role in cell growth and oncogenesis.

Area of Science:

  • Molecular Biology
  • Cell Biology
  • Genetics

Background:

  • Mitogens induce significant gene expression changes in eukaryotic cells.
  • Rapidly activated, conserved genes are vital for signal transduction and cell proliferation.
  • c-myc and c-fos are known key regulators of cell growth.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To report the molecular cloning of a novel early growth response (egr) gene.
  • To characterize the induction patterns and cell-type specificity of this new egr gene.
  • To investigate the potential role of this egr gene in cell growth control and oncogenesis.

Main Methods:

  • Molecular cloning of a novel egr gene.
  • Analysis of mRNA induction in mouse fibroblasts using serum and 12-O-tetradecanoyl-phorbol-13-acetate.
  • Assessment of gene induction in various cell types (rat hepatoma, monkey kidney epithelial, human lymphocytes) stimulated by different mitogens.

Main Results:

  • A novel egr gene with a 3.7 kb mRNA transcript was cloned.
  • Serum dramatically induced the egr mRNA in mouse fibroblasts, peaking at 30 minutes and exceeding c-fos mRNA levels.
  • The egr gene was highly induced by various mitogens in diverse cell types, including insulin, ADP, and phytohemagglutinin.
  • Co-treatment with serum and cycloheximide "superinduced" the egr transcript.

Conclusions:

  • The novel egr gene shares critical properties with c-myc and c-fos.
  • This egr gene is a significant early response gene to mitogenic stimuli.
  • It likely plays a key role in regulating cellular proliferation and may be involved in oncogenesis.

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