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Molecular events leading to fusiform morphological transformation by partial src deletion mutant of Rous sarcoma

S Iwashita, N Kitamura, M Yoshida

    Virology
    |March 1, 1983
    PubMed

    Insights

    A Rous sarcoma virus (RSV) mutant (dl 5) causes fusiform cell transformation by altering src gene products. Cell morphology changes correlate with vinculin and fibronectin levels, not specific protein phosphorylation.

    Area of Science:

    • Oncology
    • Virology
    • Cell Biology

    Background:

    • Rous sarcoma virus (RSV) causes cell transformation through its src gene.
    • Wild-type (wt) RSV induces round-type morphological transformation.
    • Understanding RSV-induced cell morphology changes is crucial for cancer research.

    Purpose of the Study:

    • To investigate the effects of a src gene deletion mutant (dl 5) of RSV on cell morphology.
    • To determine the relationship between specific protein phosphorylation and cell transformation.
    • To identify key molecular markers associated with RSV-induced morphological changes.

    Main Methods:

    • Generating and characterizing an RSV mutant (dl 5) with deletions in the src gene.
    • Analyzing protein expression and phosphorylation in chick embryo fibroblasts (CEF) transformed by wt RSV and dl 5.
    • Quantifying levels of vinculin and fibronectin in transformed cells.

    Main Results:

    • The dl 5 mutant induced fusiform, not round, morphological transformation in CEF.
    • A 52K protein with high tyrosine kinase activity was produced by dl 5.
    • Cellular morphology changes correlated with increased vinculin and fibronectin, but not specific phosphorylation events.

    Conclusions:

    • RSV-induced cell morphological transformation is linked to altered levels of vinculin and fibronectin.
    • Specific protein phosphorylation events (36K, 55K, 57K) and tyrosine phosphorylation in vinculin are not direct correlates of morphological transformation.
    • The dl 5 mutant provides insights into the complex mechanisms of viral oncogenesis and cell structure regulation.

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