Detection of high incidence of K-ras oncogenes during human colon tumorigenesis

Concomitant K- and N-ras gene point mutations in clonal murine lymphoma

We have surveyed a panel of induced murine lymphomas for c-ras gene mutations. The K-ras gene seems to be preferentially activated in our system, and there are at least two examples of concomitant K- and N-ras gene mutations in the same tumor. This indicates that in some cases additional ras mutations may contribute to tumorigenesis and is evidence for a role of ras activation in tumor progression.

Expression of an activated ras gene causes developmental abnormalities in transgenic Drosophila melanogaster

We describe the developmental effects of the expression of a normal and mutated Drosophila ras gene ras2 in transgenic Drosophila. A Gly14----Val14 mutant (Gly14 in ras2 is equivalent to Gly12 in mammalian ras proteins) was constructed in ras2 by site-directed mutagenesis. Inducible constructs of ras2 and ras2Val14 were made by coupling the hsp70 promoter to each of the genes. In addition, the endogenous ras2 promoter was placed upstream of the mutated ras2Val14. These constructs were introduced into the germ line of Drosophila to yield transgenic lines by P-element-mediated transformation. A wide variety of developmental disorders were displayed in flies carrying the mutated ras2 gene driven by either the endogenous or the hsp70 promoter. The basal level of transcription of mutated ras from the uninduced hsp70 promoter was sufficient to produce disturbances in the development of several tissue types. In contrast, phenotypic disturbances were not seen with the normal ras2 gene driven by the hsp70 promoter even when induced by heat shock to very high levels of transcription over normal ras2 levels. A subset of the tissues expressing ras2 during development was particularly sensitive to the expression of ras2Val14. The compound eye was found to develop a dorsal-to-ventral 'scar' correlated with the wave of differentiation occurring in the eye imaginal disc at the time of a single brief induction of the hsp70 promoted ras2Val14 construct.

Frequent generation of oncogenes by in vitro recombination of TRK protooncogene sequences

Transfection of NIH 3T3 cells with cDNA clones containing either the entire coding sequences or the tyrosine protein kinase domain of the human TRK protooncogene results in the frequent generation of transforming genes. Activation of most of these TRK oncogenes involves acquisition of DNA sequences. These sequences, unlike those present in the original human TRK oncogene, are not derived from tropomyosin genes. The products of these in vitro-generated TRK oncogenes retain the parental tyrosine protein kinase activity and contain an intact carboxyl terminus. However, they exhibit distinct biochemical properties. Whereas some of them are nonglycosylated cytoplasmic molecules, others were found to be transmembrane glycoproteins. These results suggest that TRK oncogenes may induce malignant transformation by allowing their tyrosine kinase to interact with various substrates depending on the nature of their activating sequences. If so, the TRK kinase may serve as a pleiotropic marker to identify various cellular proteins whose unscheduled phosphorylation on tyrosine residues contributes to neoplastic transformation.

Analysis of genetic variability and mapping of point mutations in influenza virus by the RNase A mismatch cleavage method

We have applied the RNase A mismatch cleavage method to analyze genetic variability in RNA viruses by using influenza virus as a model system. Uniformly labeled RNA probes synthesized from a cloned hemagglutinin gene of a given viral strain were hybridized to RNA isolated from other strains of characterized or uncharacterized genetic composition. The RNA.RNA heteroduplexes containing a variable number of base mismatches were digested with RNase A, and the resistant products were analyzed by denaturing polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. We show that many of these single base mismatches are cleaved by RNase A, generating unique and characteristic patterns of resistant RNA fragments specific for each of the different viral strains. Comparative analysis of the cleavage patterns allows a qualitative estimation of the genetic relatedness and evolution of field strains. We also show that cleavage by RNase A at single base mismatches can readily detect and localize point mutations present in monoclonal antibody-resistant variants. This method should have wide applications in the study of RNA viruses, not only for epidemiological analysis but also in some diagnostic problems, such as characterization of phenotypic mutants.

The ras gene family and human carcinogenesis

It has been well established that specific alterations in members of the ras gene family, H-ras, K-ras and N-ras, can convert them into active oncogenes. These alterations are either point mutations occurring in either codon 12, 13 or 61 or, alternatively, a 5- to 50-fold amplification of the wild-type gene. Activated ras oncogenes have been found in a significant proportion of all tumors but the incidence varies considerably with the tumor type: it is relatively frequent (20-40%) in colorectal cancer and acute myeloid leukemia, but absent or present only rarely in, for example, breast tumors and stomach cancer. No correlation has been found, yet, between the presence of absence of an activated ras gene and the clinical or biological features of the malignancy. The activation of ras oncogenes is only one step in the multistep process of tumor formation. The presence of mutated ras genes in benign polyps of the colon indicates that activation can be an early event, possibly even the initiating event. However, it can also occur later in the course of carcinogenesis to initiate for instance the transition of a benign polyp of the colon into a malignant carcinoma or to convert a primary melanoma into a metastatic tumor. Apparently, the activation of ras genes is not an obligatory event but when it occurs it can contribute to both early and advanced stages of human carcinogenesis.

High-level expression of c-H-ras1 fails to fully transform rat-1 cells

Rat-1 cells were transfected with plasmids encoding normal (Gly-12), nonactivated (Pro-12), and activated (Val-12 and Ile-12) p21H-ras in the presence of an amplifiable dihydrofolate reductase marker. The introduced DNA was amplified by selection in methotrexate to establish the relationship between p21H-ras expression and various hallmarks of cellular transformation. The maximum level of p21H-ras (Gly-12) consistent with cell viability was approximately 0.13% of total cell protein (approximately 60,000 molecules per cell); this is 44-fold greater than the level of the endogenous protein. The maximum tolerated level of a second nontransforming form of p21H-ras (pro-12) was about half of this. Amplification in Rat-1 cells of H-ras genes encoding the highly oncogenic Val-12 and Ile-12 forms of p21H-ras could not be achieved by methotrexate selection, providing strong evidence that synthesis of activated p21H-ras above a certain threshold (about 0.02% of total protein) in Rat-1 cells is incompatible with cell viability. Individual cell lines were isolated and their morphology, anchorage-independent growth, tumorigenicity, and response to and production of growth factors were studied. We report that cell lines expressing near-maximum tolerated levels of either the normal or pro-12 form of p21H-ras were not as transformed as cells expressing much more modest levels of the highly oncogenic (Val-12) form, suggesting that the complete elaboration of the transformed phenotype by ras depends, at least in part, on mutations that distinguish the cellular and viral proteins. We found that cells expressing elevated levels of the normal p21(H-ras) could be fully transformed by the activated (Val-12) form and that such cells continued to overexpress p21(H-ras) (Gly-12), arguing against a role for normal ras genes in suppression of the oncogenic potential of their mutationally activated counterparts.

Loss of alleles on chromosome 18 and on the short arm of chromosome 17 in polyploid colorectal carcinomas

The zygosity of 19 colorectal carcinomas (either near-diploid or polyploid) from patients known to be heterozygous for RFLPs located on chromosome 18 or on the short arm of chromosome 17 has been examined. In most cases, at least one allele was significantly under-represented. The reason for the absence of complete loss of heterozygosity was investigated for 5 polyploid tumors. It was shown that the diploid component which, in these tumors, is essentially composed of non-neoplastic cells, remains heterozygous as the polyploid component invariably loses heterozygosity. The results strongly suggest that many colorectal carcinomas originate from a single cell which had lost at least part of either chromosome 18 or of one short arm of chromosome 17, or both.

Analysis of RAS gene mutations in acute myeloid leukemia by polymerase chain reaction and oligonucleotide probes

In vitro DNA amplification followed by oligonucleotide dot blot analysis were used to study RAS gene mutations in acute myeloid leukemia (AML). Fifty-two presentation AML DNAs were screened for mutations in codons 12, 13, and 61 of NRAS and in codons 12 and 61 of KRAS and HRAS. Fourteen (27%) contained mutations--all in NRAS and predominantly in codon 12. The most common amino acid substitution identified was of glycine by aspartic acid at codon 12 (7/18), with a G----A transition being the most common base change (11/18). No particular correlation was observed between disease subtype and the incidence or type of NRAS mutation. In DNA samples from four patients, 2 NRAS mutations were found to coexist. NIH 3T3 focus-formation assays revealed that in each case the mutations were present in different NRAS alleles. We also report the absence of a mutated RAS gene in relapse DNAs of four patients in which a RAS oncogene had been detected at presentation. These observations suggest that RAS mutations arise as part of the evolution of neoplastic transformation.

Activated K-ras in tumorigenic and non-tumorigenic cell variants from a rat colon adenocarcinoma, induced by dimethylhydrazine

Using NIH3T3 cell transfection assay, activated c-K-ras was detected in two cell lines, TRb and TSb, obtained from a single colon adenocarcinoma induced in a rat by 1,2-dimethylhydrazine. TRb cells give rise to progressive and metastatic tumors in the syngeneic rats, whereas TSb cells only induce regressive tumors. Levels of K-ras transcripts in TRb and TSb cells were higher than that of NIH3T3 cells, but no difference was found between TRb and TSb cells. No significant difference was observed in expression levels of c-myc in these two cell lines. c-fos expression was, however, significantly lower in TRb than TSb cells.

H-ras activation in benign and self-regressing skin tumors (keratoacanthomas) in both humans and an animal model system

The involvement of the ras oncogenes in tumorigenesis was investigated in keratoacanthomas, which are benign and self-regressing skin tumors, both in humans and in a corresponding animal model system. Keratoacanthomas were induced on rabbit ears by repeated applications of 7,12-dimethylbenz(a)anthracene. About 60% of the tumor DNAs produced transformed foci after transfection into NIH 3T3 cells, and in all of them the transforming gene was identified as H-ras by Southern and Northern (RNA) hybridization. Immunoprecipitation experiments suggested that the transforming rabbit H-ras protein carried a mutation in codon 61. In addition, an activated H-ras gene was detected in a human keratoacanthoma by using a nude mouse tumorigenesis assay after transfection of tumor DNA into NIH 3T3 cells. This is the first report of ras activation in a benign human tumor. The transforming human H-ras gene showed a point mutation in codon 61 that would result in leucine instead of the glutamine present in the normal gene product. The finding of ras activation in tumors that are not only benign but also self-regressing indicates that activated ras genes are not sufficient to maintain a neoplastic phenotype, although they likely play a role in early stages of tumorigenesis.

Ha-ras restriction fragment length polymorphisms in colorectal cancer

The possibility of an association between restriction fragment length polymorphisms (RFLPs) at the Ha-ras gene locus and susceptibility to develop colorectal cancer has been investigated. Leucocyte DNA from 46 carcinoma patients and 49 controls was analysed by Southern blotting to determine the size distribution of restriction fragments containing the variable tandem repeat 3' to the Ha-ras gene. Four predominant allelic fragments were found in both groups (in AvaII digests having sizes of 1.55, 2.0, 2.65 and 3.15 kilobases [kb]), together with a variety of 'rare' alleles (with individual frequencies less than 5%). The overall prevalence of rare alleles was not significantly different between cancer and control groups. The distribution of the common alleles, however, differed significantly. The combined frequency of the two larger alleles (a3 and a4) was approximately twice as high in the cancer group (34%) as in controls (18%) (P less than 0.025), which was reflected in a highly significant increase in the proportion of individuals carrying an a3 or a4 allele.

An initiator codon mutation in ornithine-delta-aminotransferase causing gyrate atrophy of the choroid and retina

Gyrate atrophy of the choroid and retina (GA) is an autosomal recessive chorioretinal degeneration caused by deficiency of the mitochondrial matrix enzyme, ornithine-delta-aminotransferase (OAT). To study the molecular basis of the mutations causing GA, we cloned and sequenced the human OAT cDNA and determined the intron-exon arrangement of the structural gene. Using the cDNA template, we synthesized antisense RNA probes and performed RNase A protection experiments with RNA from four Lebanese GA patients. We found a probe-target mismatch at the 5' end of the first coding exon and amplified this region of the patients' genomic DNA using the polymerase chain reaction. Sequence analysis showed a G----A transition, changing the initiator ATG (methionine) codon to ATA. This mutation segregates with the GA allele in both pedigrees. Initiation of translation at the closest in-frame methionine codon would truncate OAT by 138 amino acids, eliminating the entire mitochondrial leader sequence and 113 amino acids of the mature peptide.

Activated Ki-ras genes in bladder epithelial cell lines transformed by treatment of primary mouse bladder explant cultures with 7,12-dimethylbenz[a]anthracene

DNA from five lines of transformed bladder epithelial cells derived from cultures of primary cells that had been treated with 7,12-dimethylbenz[a]anthracene (DMBA) can transform NIH 3T3 mouse fibroblasts in DNA transfection experiments. Southern analysis of DNA from NIH 3T3 primary and secondary transformants established that four of the DMBA-transformed cell lines contained activated cellular Ki-ras, while the remaining cell line contained a transforming gene that is unrelated to Ki-ras, N-ras, and Ha-ras. The point mutations responsible for Ki-ras activation were detected using oligonucleotide probes following selective amplification of Ki-ras specific sequences using the polymerase chain reaction. The results showed that activation of Ki-ras invariably involved a GC----AT transition mutation of the first position of codon 12. Surprisingly, a Ki-ras gene that was activated by a GC----AT transition mutation at the same position was also detected in a single transformed bladder urothelial cell line derived from control cultures of mouse bladder cells. Together, our results indicate that Ki-ras activation in the DMBA-transformed bladder cell lines may not be a direct consequence of interaction of activated DMBA metabolites with the Ki-ras gene.

Anemia in a line of transgenic mice carrying a mutant dihydrofolate reductase gene

Several lines of transgenic mice were produced by pronuclear injection of a full-length cDNA encoding a mutant dihydrofolate reductase (DHFR, E.C. 1.5.1.3). The mutation causes altered enzyme kinetics for folate reduction as well as low affinity for methotrexate (MTX). One line of mice carrying the plasmid displays a moderate-to-severe anemia that is evident in fetuses and newborn mice and that moderates with age. RNA studies revealed high levels of transcription of the mutant gene in the fetal and adult liver, and low or absent expression in adult bone marrow. Transcription of the mutant gene was not found in the fetal liver of other pedigrees examined. The data thus suggest that expression of this mutant gene in the main hematopoietic organ of the fetus adversely affects erythropoiesis by altering the cellular environment for erythroid differentiation, and that translocation of the site of hematopoiesis to bone marrow, where the foreign gene is not expressed, leads to normalization of red cell production.

Direct sequencing of enzymatically amplified human genomic DNA

The polymerase chain reaction is a recently described technique that uses flanking oligonucleotide primers and repeated cycles of enzymatic primer extension to amplify a short segment of DNA by greater than 100,000-fold. By use of sequencing primers located internal to the amplification primers, direct genomic sequence was obtained from enzymatically amplified DNA by using the dideoxynucleotide chain-termination method. The method is relatively simple and offers significant advantages in identifying mutations in genes for which the normal sequence is known. Heterozygous and homozygous mutations in the human beta- and gamma-globin loci were unambiguously identified in 3 days with less than 1 microgram of genomic DNA.

Modified responsiveness of v-Ha-ras-transfected rat fibroblasts to growth factors and a tumor promoter

The correlation of the phenotypic changes of v-Ha-ras transfected cells with the expression of p21ras and the modified responses to growth factors and a tumor promoter were examined. Transfection of the v-Ha-ras gene together with the neomycin-resistance gene into 208F rat fibroblasts yielded transformed clones characterized by morphological changes, anchorage-independent growth, and tumorigenicity in nude mice. The degrees of these biological alterations were parallel with the expression of mRNA and protein of the ras gene. In ras-transformed cells, anchorage-independent growth was stimulated by epidermal growth factor (EGF), insulin, bombesin, and fibroblast growth factor, whereas in the parental 208F cells, anchorage-independent growth was observed only in the presence of EGF, and there were many fewer EGF-induced colonies than those in the ras-transformed clones. A tumor promoter, 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA) also augmented anchorage-independent growth of ras-transformed cells and induced morphological changes in monolayer cultures without altering the expression of the ras gene or phosphorylation of the p21ras protein. Retinoic acid inhibited the TPA-induced anchorage-independent growth. These results showed a good correlation of the expression of p21ras with the phenotypic changes and the increased sensitivity of the p21ras-expressing cells to the stimulation of growth factors and tumor promoter.

RAS gene mutations in acute and chronic myelocytic leukemias, chronic myeloproliferative disorders, and myelodysplastic syndromes

We report on investigations aimed at detecting mutated RAS genes in a variety of preleukemic disorders and leukemias of myeloid origin. DNA transfection analyses (tumorigenicity assay) and hybridization to mutation-specific oligonucleotide probes established NRAS mutations in codon 12 or 61 of 4/9 acute myelocytic leukemias (AML) and three AML lines. Leukemic cells of another AML patient showed HRAS gene activation. By using a rapid and sensitive dot-blot screening procedure based on the combination of in vitro amplification of RAS-specific sequences and oligonucleotide hybridization we additionally screened 15 myelodysplastic syndromes, 26 Philadelphia chromosome-positive chronic myelocytic leukemias in chronic or acute phase, and 19 other chronic myeloproliferative disorders. A mutation within NRAS codon 12 could thus be demonstrated in a patient with idiopathic myelofibrosis and in another with chronic myelomonocytic leukemia. Moreover, mutated NRAS sequences were detected in lymphocytes, in granulocytes, as well as in monocytes/macrophages of the latter case.

Clonal analysis of human colorectal tumors

The clonal composition of human colorectal tumors was studied by means of restriction fragment length polymorphisms (RFLPs). First, X-linked RFLPs were used to examine the pattern of X chromosome inactivation in colorectal tumors of females. All 50 tumors examined showed monoclonal patterns of X chromosome inactivation; these tumors included 20 carcinomas as well as 30 adenomas of either familial or spontaneous type. Second, RFLPs of autosomes were used as clonal markers to detect the somatic loss or gain of specific chromosomal sequences in colorectal tumors. Among other changes, it was found that somatic loss of chromosome 17p sequences occurred in over 75 percent of the carcinomas examined, but such loss was rare in adenomas. These data support a monoclonal origin for colorectal neoplasms, and suggest that a gene on the short arm of chromosome 17 may be associated with progression from the benign to the malignant state.

Mutational activation of the K-ras oncogene. A possible pathogenetic factor in adenocarcinoma of the lung

To define the role of cellular oncogenes in human cancers, we studied the prevalence of mutational activation of ras oncogenes in untreated non-small-cell lung cancer. Genomic DNA was extracted from 39 tumor specimens obtained by thoracotomy and was examined for activating point mutations in codons 12, 13, and 61 of the H-ras, K-ras, and N-ras genes. A novel, highly sensitive assay based on oligonucleotide hybridization following an in vitro amplification step was employed. The K-ras gene was found to be activated by point mutations in codon 12 in 5 of 10 adenocarcinomas. Two of these tumors were less than 2 cm in size and had not metastasized. No ras gene mutations were observed in 15 squamous-cell carcinomas, 10 large-cell carcinomas, 1 carcinoid, 2 metastatic adenocarcinomas from primary tumors outside the lung, and 1 small-cell carcinoma. An approximately 20-fold amplification of the unmutated K-ras gene was observed in a tumor that proved to be a solitary lung metastasis of a rectal carcinoma. We conclude that mutational K-ras activation may be an important early event in the pathogenesis of adenocarcinoma of the lung but that amplification of ras genes or mutational activation of H-ras or N-ras does not play a major part in non-small-cell lung cancer.