Hormonal inducibility of rat alpha 2u globulin genes in transfected mouse cells

Two different genes coding for the hormonally regulated rat liver protein alpha 2u globulin were introduced into mouse Ltk- cells through co-transfection with the HSV-1 thymidine kinase gene. Three to ten copies of the alpha 2u globulin genes were detected several tk+ clones, over 50% of which could be induced with dexamethasone, the produce alha 2u globulin mRNA and protein. This suggests that the information necessary for hormonal response is contained in the DNA fragment used for transfer.