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Genetic analysis of epidermal growth factor action: assignment of human epidermal growth factor receptor gene to
Abstract:
Purified murine epidermal growth factor (EGF) binds to mouse and human cells. Two mouse transformed cell lines of different origins, PG19 and B82, were found to lack EGF receptors (EGFR). The defect in each of these two cell lines seems to be identical because they fail to complement each other. Somatic cell hybrids between these EGFR-deficient mouse cells and human cells expressing EGFR were produced. Several of these hybrids bound labeled EGF. Detailed cytogenetic analysis of these cell hybrids, followed by correlation of EGFR expression with human chromosomes revealed that EGFR presence correlated with human chromosome 7. The results suggest that the structural gene or a gene necessary for expression of the human EGF receptor is located on human chromosome 7.
Insights
Researchers found that the gene for the human epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) is located on chromosome 7. This discovery was made by studying cell hybrids lacking EGFR and human cells that express it.
Area of Science:
- Cell Biology
- Genetics
- Molecular Biology
Background:
- Epidermal Growth Factor (EGF) is crucial for cell growth and differentiation.
- EGF receptors (EGFR) mediate EGF signaling.
- Certain mouse cell lines (PG19, B82) lack functional EGFR.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the chromosomal location of the human EGF receptor (EGFR) gene.
- To investigate the genetic basis of EGFR deficiency in mouse cell lines.
Main Methods:
- Production of somatic cell hybrids between EGFR-deficient mouse cells and EGFR-expressing human cells.
- Assay of labeled EGF binding to hybrid cells.
- Cytogenetic analysis of hybrid cells to correlate EGFR expression with human chromosome presence.
Main Results:
- EGFR-deficient mouse cell lines PG19 and B82 showed identical defects, failing to complement each other.
- Somatic cell hybrids exhibited EGF binding.
- EGFR expression in hybrid cells consistently correlated with the presence of human chromosome 7.
Conclusions:
- The gene responsible for the human EGF receptor (EGFR) or its expression is located on human chromosome 7.
- This finding provides a genetic map for EGFR and aids in understanding its regulation.