A 53-kilodalton protein common to chemically and virally transformed cells shows extensive sequence similarities between species

The functional significance of tumour-associated cell surface alterations of embryonic and unknown origin

The study of the phenotype of tumours aims to elucidate cell surface alterations that could be used for diagnostic, prognostic or therapeutic purposes. As tumours tend to escape the homeostatic growth control mechanisms of the host, it can be assumed that plasma membrane alterations are also responsible for the antisocial behaviour of tumour cells. Selected features of the transformed phenotype, of fetal or unknown origin, namely tumour-associated antigens, isozymes and growth factors, are discussed in relation to the altered growth pattern of the tumour cell. It is concluded that definitive structure-function relationships have not yet been established, but areas for future investigation are suggested.

P53 protein expression in Hodgkin's disease

P53 is an oncosuppressor gene which is located on chromosome 17. Mutations of the p53 gene are closely associated with malignant transformation under in vitro conditions and are the most common genetic alteration in human malignancy. Unlike normal p53 protein which is unstable and usually cannot be detected by immunohistology, mutated p53 shows a decreased cell turnover rate and overexpression as compared with the wild-type protein. In this study a panel of four anti-p53 antibodies (PAb240, PAb421, PAb1801 and DO7) was applied to 52 cases of Hodgkin's disease: three cases of nodular lymphocytic predominance (LP), 33 cases of nodular sclerosis (NS), and 16 cases of mixed cellularity (MC). The results show that 53 protein is present in the Hodgkin's- and Reed-Sternberg cells in 82% of NS and 94% of MC, but not in nodular LP. It is suggested that mutations of the p53 gene and loss of normal p53 function are frequent in Hodgkin's disease and may be implicated in the pathogenesis of this disease.

The pathogenesis of AIDS lymphomas: a foundation for addressing the challenges of therapy and prevention

The association between AIDS and a spectrum of malignancies relates to chronic, profound defects in both cellular and humoral mechanisms of immune surveillance. Ironically, as AIDS patients live longer in response to increasingly effective antiretroviral therapies, the incidence of AIDS-related malignancies will continue to rise. The emergence of non-Hodgkin's lymphomas (NHL) as a major sequela of HIV infection bears a striking relationship to depletion of CD4 lymphocytes, particularly below 50/mm3. The ability to interfere early in the course of active HIV infection with additional mechanisms that may promulgate transformed cell hyperproliferation and clonal expansion--growth factors, HIV itself or other viruses (Epstein-Barr, in particular), aberrant oncogene or tumor suppressor genes expression, factors that induce genetic instability or DNA damage or alter host or viral genome repair--might decrease the occurrence or prolong the time to development of AIDS-related malignancies. The development of antiretroviral strategies that confer long-term suppression of HIV activity and relative preservation of immune function are essential to the ultimate prevention of malignancies that arise as a consequence of HIV-induced immunosuppression.

Accumulation of p53 protein correlates with tumour proliferative activity in EBV positive Burkitt's lymphoma

p53 tumour suppressor gene is often found mutated in Burkitt's lymphoma (BL) cell lines and tumours. We analysed 35 BL tumours for the accumulation of p53 protein, and correlated the results with DNA flow cytometric data on the proliferative activity (SPF), and data on the presence or absence of Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) DNA. More than one-third (37 per cent) of the tumours showed accumulation of p53, which was considered to be consistent with mutation of the p53 gene. Tumours that were positive both for EBV DNA and p53 had significantly higher mean SPF than corresponding EBV DNA negative and/or p53 negative tumours. The proportions of tumour cells with accumulation of p53 appeared to correlate with tumour SPF only in EBV DNA positive BLs. However, there was no apparent association between accumulation of p53 and the presence or absence of EBV DNA. These findings are suggestive of multiple pathways in BL tumour progression.

Epstein-Barr virus/complement fragment C3d receptor (CR2) reacts with p53, a cellular antioncogene-encoded membrane phosphoprotein: detection by polyclonal anti-idiotypic anti-CR2 antibodies

Epstein-Barr virus and the C3d fragment of the third component of complement are specific extracellular ligands for complement receptor type 2 (CR2). However, intracellular proteins that react specifically with CR2 and are involved in post-membrane signals remain unknown. We recently prepared polyclonal anti-idiotypic anti-CR2 antibodies (Ab2) by using the highly purified CR2 molecule as original immunogen. We showed that Ab2 contained anti-idiotypic specificities that mimicked extracellular domains of CR2 and detected two distinct binding sites on CR2 for its specific extracellular ligands, Epstein-Barr virus and C3d. We postulated that Ab2 might also contain specificities that could mimic intracellular domains of CR2. Here we report that Ab2, which did not react with Raji B-lymphoma cell surface components, detected specifically, among all components solubilized from Raji cell membranes, a single intracellular membrane protein of apparent molecular mass of 53 kDa. This protein was identified as the p53 cellular antioncogene-encoded membrane phosphoprotein by analyzing its antigenic properties with Pab1801, a monoclonal anti-p53 antibody, and by comparing its biochemical properties with those of p53. Additionally, solubilized and purified CR2 bound to solubilized p53 immobilized on Pab1801-Sepharose. p53, like CR2, was localized only in purified plasma membranes and nuclei of Raji cells. These data suggest strongly that p53, a cellular antioncogene-encoded phosphoprotein, reacted specifically with CR2 in Raji membranes. This interaction may represent one of the important steps through which CR2 could be involved in human B-lymphocyte proliferation and transformation.

The implications of embryonic gene expression in neoplasia

The discovery that human as well as animal tumors generally expressed oncofetal antigens (OFAs) and that these antigens generate a variety of immune responses in the tumor-bearing host is of potential major significance in tumor biology. The concept of the reexpression of embryonic or fetal antigens (EAs) encoded by DNA, which is silent in adults but is essential in metazoan development, may mesh with the exciting concept of cancer causation. While this scenario is still only speculative, it provides an interesting forum for reviewing the current data concerning the role of OFAs in cancer processes. The literature describing OFAs and their embryonic counterparts, the EAs, in modern tumor and fetal immunobiology has become extensive and, unfortunately, is quite scattered. This article seeks to synthesize this complicated data base into a cogent presentation focusing on the immunological role of EAs and OFAs in fetal survival in utero and in tumor progression and regression, respectively. The immunogenicity and characteristics of the immune responses to EAs and OFAs will be presented and placed in perspective to the rapidly unraveling story of protooncogenes and oncogenes in tumor induction.

Purification of p53/55 kinase from nuclear ribonucleoproteins of Namalwa cells

A nuclear p53/55 protein kinase has been isolated from nuclear ribonucleoprotein particles from human tumor cells. The enzyme was purified approximately 2200-fold cell nuclei by sequential ribonuclease digestion of the RNP particles, DEAE cellulose and phosphocellulose chromatography. The kinase which was cAMP independent, catalyzed the phosphorylation of rabbit muscle glycogen synthase in the amino terminal domain, and conversion of the I to D form. The D synthase had a phosphorylation stoichiometry of 8 moles 32P per mole of synthase subunit with maximal specificity for ATP as phosphate donor; its Km was 30 microM. An antinucleolar antibody inhibited enzyme activity by 80%. Substrates for most other kinases were inactive. The kinase was essentially unaffected by the Walsh inhibitor, EGTA, regulatory subunits of protein kinase, calmodulin, trifluoperazine or heparin. Its activity was lost at 1 mM polyamine, but was enhanced 3-fold by MnCl2 and 4- to 9-fold by deoxymononucleotides. The nuclei of HeLa cells contained 64% of the total kinase of which 64% of the total kinase of which 11% were in nucleoli; the specific activity of the nucleolar kinase was twice that of the nuclear supernatant and four times that of the cytoplasmic kinase. These results indicate that nucleolar ribonucleoprotein particles of human tumor cells contain a cAMP-independent protein kinase which is similar to glycogen synthase kinase.

Cloning and expression analysis of full length mouse cDNA sequences encoding the transformation associated protein p53

We have cloned and sequenced overlapping cDNA fragments which together encode the entire mouse protein p53. Using these cDNA's we have reconstructed the full length coding region for the protein, and have analysed its coding potential by expression in vitro, both as a full length sequence and as a subfragment contained in a fusion protein. The predicted amino acid sequence contains no obvious homologies to any known oncogenes but includes a possible tyrosine kinase acceptor site.

Large-T-antigen-p53 complex formation is not cold sensitive in a cold-sensitive transformant induced by simian virus 40 mutant tsA1499

F111 rat cells transformed by simian virus 40 mutant tsA1499 are cold sensitive for the expression of transformation. Yet, unlike F111 cells transformed by tsA58, they do not lose the ability to stabilize the transformation-associated host cell protein p53 at the temperature at which transformation is extinguished.

Pre-crisis mouse cells show strain-specific covariation in the amount of 54-kilodalton phosphoprotein and in susceptibility to transformation by simian virus 40

We have used several inbred mouse strains to examine the role of the 54-kilodalton (kDa) cellular phosphoprotein in transformation by the papovavirus simian virus 40. We have measured the endogenous 54-kDa phosphoprotein in cells obtained from these inbred mouse strains. To study the effect of passage, cell cultures were measured for amount of the 54-kDa phosphoprotein at the 2nd and 12th passages. In the absence of any transforming agent, the amount of endogenous 54-kDa phosphoprotein in early pre-crisis mouse cells varied in a strain-specific way. Transformation frequency varied coordinately with endogenous 54-kDa expression. Mouse strains whose cells produced a high level of endogenous 54-kDa phosphoprotein on passage did not further increase its expression after simian virus 40 transformation.

p53, a transformation-related cellular-encoded protein, can be used as a biochemical marker for the detection of primary mouse tumor cells

p53, a transformation-related cellular-encoded protein, was found to accumulate at high concentration in transformed cell lines. The results presented here show that p53 biosynthesis is also increased in most induced and spontaneous mouse tumors. Judged by the identity in antigenic determinants (estimated by binding to monoclonal antibodies), size, and partial peptide mapping, I conclude that the p53 molecule found in primary tumors is indistinguishable from that in established cell lines. The fact that p53 is found in heterogeneous populations of primary tumors makes it a convenient biochemical diagnostic marker for the detection of primary tumors in mice. It is found in primary tumors as a phosphoprotein, just as it was found previously in established cell lines. On the other hand, the p53 found at low concentration in normal thymocytes is labeled with [35S]methionine but cannot be found in its phosphorylated form.

Antibodies of predetermined specificity for the NH2 terminus of a cellular protein p53 react with the native molecule: evidence for the presence of different p53s

Two synthetic peptides corresponding to residues 1-20 and 10-20, respectively, of one type of a cellular protein called "p53" have been linked to a carrier protein and injected into rabbits to raise antibodies. The antibodies obtained were capable of reacting with the native protein, as judged by an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, protein A-linked staining of immunoblots after NaDodSO4 gel electrophoresis, and immunoprecipitation. The immunoassay titers against the protein were lower for these antibodies than for antisera derived from immunization with purified p53. However, staining with the immunoblot method showed that the antipeptide antibodies against p53 were uniquely specific. The data suggest that at least two different types of p53 molecules occur. The cellular protein previously isolated from human cells transformed by Epstein-Barr virus and from murine tumors induced by methylcholanthrene appears to be larger than the p53 reported in relation to simian virus 40- or adenovirus-transformed cells and to some other tumors. Some interrelationships have not been excluded, but it is clear that the two protein molecules do not behave identically. The reactions of the antipeptide antibodies with the intact protein have implications in regard to protein conformations. The strict specificities of such antibodies allow the generation of distinct sets of reagents useful for quantitation, purification, and cloning.

Identification and purification of Namalwa nuclear RNP antigen 52/5.3

Using affinity purified rabbit antibodies to HeLa nucleoli and the Western blotting techniques, an antigen with an approximate molecular weight of 52,000 and pI of 5.3 was found in Namalwa cells (a Burkitt lymphoma), but not in normal liver cells. This antigen was purified from Namalwa RNP by column chromatography on Sephacryl S-200, hydroxylapatite and one-dimensional SDS gel electrophoresis. A liver protein with the same molecular weight and pI value was purified from RNP fraction by one-dimensional SDS gel electrophoresis. Both proteins had similar amino-acid compositions. The tryptic map of 125I-labeled protein 52/5.3 contained approximately nine major spots; spot 9 was present in the Namalwa protein but not in the liver protein. The similarity of the structures of these proteins and their differences in antigenicity are noteworthy and require further structural and functional analysis.

Migration inhibition caused by EBV-specific 48K subcomponent of EBNA and the associated 53K cellular protein

Leukocytes from EBV-seropositive but not seronegative healthy donors responded with significant migration inhibition to the 48K subcomponent of the Epstein-Barr virus determined nuclear antigen (EBNA), known to carry the virally determined antigenic specificity. A concentration of 10 micrograms/ml was still effective while 5 micrograms/ml had no detectable effect. EBNA-associated cellular 53K protein had no effect by itself, but it potentiated the effect of 48K, even if the latter was added at the subliminal concentration of 5 micrograms/ml. The related 53K protein, isolated from EBV-negative human lymphoma cells, was also effective, whereas the corresponding murine-tumor-associated 53K had no potentiating effect. Immunization of mice with an extract of DNA-binding proteins from EBV-carrying Raji cells, known to contain both 48K and 53K, induced a significant macrophage migration inhibition response, to both human 48K and 53K. Murine 53K was ineffective, however. Human but not murine 53K increased the migration inhibitory activity of subliminal concentrations of 48K in the murine macrophage system as well. These findings suggest that human but not murine 53K may reconstitute with 48K (EBNA) to form a highly immunogenic complex.