[Minisatellite instability induced by okadaic acid]

Okadaic acid (OA) is an inhibitor of serine/threonine protein phosphatase (PP) and a tumor promoter in mouse skin carcinogenesis. According to Carcinogenesis Division, National Cancer Center Research Institute, OA induces various genetic alterations, such as loss of exogenous genes, sister chromatid exchanges and diphtheria toxin resistant mutants, although there is no evidence showing that it interacts with DNA directly or produces active oxygen under the conditions used. In this study, minisatellite, which is a hotspot of recombination, was investigated regarding the induction of alteration and instability by OA. It was also attempted to elucidate the roles of minisatellite instability in carcinogenesis. NIH3T3 cells were cultured either with or without OA, subcloned and DNA from each clone was subjected to fingerprint analysis using the Pc-1 minisatellite probe. The frequency of minisatellite recombination was 29% in OA-treated cells, as opposed to 3% in nontreated cells. Furthermore, OA-treated cells exhibited tumorigenicity in nude mice. Minisatellite fingerprint analysis of clones obtained from the tumors revealed that those tumors had acquired minisatellite instability. These mechanisms may be involved in tumor promotion by OA.