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Updated: Aug 1, 2026

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Derivation of Thymic Lymphoma T-cell Lines from Atm-/- and p53-/- Mice
Published on: April 3, 2011
Regulation of thymus PCNA expression is altered in radiation-sensitive wasted mice
G E Woloschak1, T Paunesku, C R Libertin
1Center for Mechanistic Biology and Biotechnology, Argonne National Laboratory, IL 60439-4833, USA.
Carcinogenesis
|November 1, 1996
Summary
The
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Genetics
- Molecular Biology
Background:
- The 'wasted' (wst/wst) mouse mutation causes neurological dysfunction, immunodeficiency, and radiation sensitivity.
- Abnormalities are linked to thymic and T-lymphocyte tissues.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the molecular basis of the 'wasted' mouse syndrome.
- To identify molecular differences in thymic tissues between wasted and control mice.
Main Methods:
- Two-dimensional gel electrophoresis and microsequencing to identify proteins.
- Northern blot analysis to assess gene expression.
- Cell cycle analysis and Southern blotting to examine DNA and gene loci.
Main Results:
- A ~30 kDa acidic protein, identified as murine proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA), was underexpressed in wasted mice.
- Lower PCNA transcript accumulation was observed in thymus and spleen of wasted mice.
- Wasted splenocytes showed reduced S-phase entry after concanavalin A activation, indicating impaired cell cycle progression.
Conclusions:
- The 'wasted' mutation is associated with reduced PCNA expression in radiation-sensitive tissues.
- An alteration in the PCNA expression pathway is suggested in wasted mice.
- This dysregulation may contribute to the observed immunodeficiency and radiation sensitivity.

