New mammalian transforming retrovirus: demonstration of a polyprotein gene product

Discovery of Raf Family Is a Milestone in Deciphering the Ras-Mediated Intracellular Signaling Pathway

The Ras-Raf-MEK-ERK signaling pathway, the first well-established MAPK pathway, plays essential roles in cell proliferation, survival, differentiation and development. It is activated in over 40% of human cancers owing to mutations of Ras, membrane receptor tyrosine kinases and other oncogenes. The Raf family consists of three isoforms, A-Raf, B-Raf and C-Raf. Since the first discovery of a truncated mutant of C-Raf as a transforming oncogene carried by a murine retrovirus, forty years of extensive studies have provided a wealth of information on the mechanisms underlying the activation, regulation and biological functions of the Raf family. However, the mechanisms by which activation of A-Raf and C-Raf is accomplished are still not completely understood. In contrast, B-Raf can be easily activated by binding of Ras-GTP, followed by cis-autophosphorylation of the activation loop, which accounts for the fact that this isoform is frequently mutated in many cancers, especially melanoma. The identification of oncogenic B-Raf mutations has led to accelerated drug development that targets Raf signaling in cancer. However, the effort has not proved as effective as anticipated, inasmuch as the mechanism of Raf activation involves multiple steps, factors and phosphorylation of different sites, as well as complex interactions between Raf isoforms. In this review, we will focus on the physiological complexity of the regulation of Raf kinases and their connection to the ERK phosphorylation cascade and then discuss the role of Raf in tumorigenesis and the clinical application of Raf inhibitors in the treatment of cancer.

Raf kinases: Oncogenesis and drug discovery

Raf kinase signaling has been thoroughly investigated over the last 20 years. A-Raf, B-Raf and C-Raf, the 3 mammalian members of the Raf family, are involved in a variety of cellular processes such as growth, proliferation, survival, differentiation and transformation. The detection of B-RAF mutations in a wide variety of human cancers, the description of wildtype and mutant B-RAF as tumor antigens in melanoma and the promising outcome of clinical trials evaluating the Raf inhibitor Nexavar (Sorafenib, BAY 43-9006) have sparked a broad interest in the scientific community. After a short historical detour and an introduction into Raf kinase signaling, we are going to discuss here recent outcomes of Raf kinase research with respect to tumor formation and give an overview on current efforts to develop anticancer therapies interfering with aberrant Raf kinase signaling.

Cot protooncoprotein activates the dual specificity kinases MEK-1 and SEK-1 and induces differentiation of PC12 cells

Mitogenic signals initiated at the plasma membrane are transmitted to the nucleus through an intricate signalling network. We identified the protooncoprotein Cot as a new component of mitogenic signalling cascades, which activates both the classic cytoplasmic cascade and the SAPK stress pathway. Wildtype and activated Cot phosphorylate and activate MEK-1 and SEK-1 in vitro. These findings are consistent with the sequence homology between Cot and the rat gene Tpl-2. Expression of oncogenic Cot in 293, NIH3T3 and PC12 cells leads to in vivo phosphorylation of endogenous c-Jun and Erk-1/2 suggesting that the serine/threonine kinase Cot functions beside c-Raf-1 and Mos as a direct activator of MEK-1. Furthermore, we have examined the biological effects of Cot on the phenotype of fibroblastic and neuronal cells. In order to test a potential c-Raf-1 dependency of Cot transformation, the effect of oncogenic Cot on Raf revertant CHP25 cells was determined. Cot could restore the transformed phenotype indicating that Cot transformation is not dependent on active c-Raf-1 and that Cot is not a target for the putative Raf inhibitor, which is presumably active in the revertant cell line. Expression of oncogenic versions of Raf as well as v-Mos leads to differentiation of PC12 cells. Cot also induces neurite outgrowth of PC12 cells. These data are consistent with the role of Cot in the classic mitogenic cascade and suggest that the simultaneously activated JNK/SAPK stress pathway has no antagonistic effects in this context.

An oncogenic form of human raf can specify terminal body pattern in Drosophila

Terminal portions of the Drosophila body pattern are specified by an extracellular ligand generated at each end of the early syncytial embryo. This ligand triggers the localized transcription of two gap segmentation genes, tailles (tll) and huckebein (hkb) through a signal transduction cascade involving the receptor tyrosine kinase torso (tor) and homologues of ras, raf, and mek (map kinae kinase). In contrast to the ligand, these signal transducing components are expressed ubiquitously. Here, we show that a constitutively active form of human raf1 protein can trigger tll and hkb transcription in Drosophila embryos and specify elements of the terminal body pattern. This result indicates a strong functional conservation between Drosophila and mammalian raf proteins and argues that the localized activity of Drosophila raf (D-raf) normally carries spatial information specifying the end portions of the body.

Activated Ki-Ras complements erythropoietin signaling in CTLL-2 cells, inducing tyrosine phosphorylation of a 160-kDa protein

We have previously shown that expression of erythropoietin (EPO) receptor (EPOR) alone failed to confer EPO responsiveness on the interleukin 2-dependent T-cell line CTLL-2, whereas the introduction of the EPOR into interleukin 3-dependent pro-B-cell lines, such as BAF-B03, allowed the cells to proliferate in response to EPO. Here, we report that additional expression of v-Ki-Ras conferred EPO-dependent growth on CTLL-2 cells expressing the EPOR, with additional formation of a high-affinity EPOR. To investigate possible mechanisms of EPOR downstream signaling induced by v-Ki-Ras expression in these CTLL-2-derived cells, we carried out anti-phosphotyrosine immunoblot analysis of the EPOR complex immunoprecipitated with anti-EPOR antibody from lysates of cells with and without cytokine stimulation, revealing two 160-kDa and 130-kDa phosphotyrosyl proteins. An anti-JAK2 antibody did not react with these proteins, suggesting that they may represent cellular components involved in an EPO-EPOR signaling pathway induced by v-Ki-Ras. Similar phosphotyrosyl proteins were present among Friend erythroleukemia cell lines, in which the Friend virus gp55/EPOR complex on the cell surface constitutively sends signals for cell growth.

Signal transduction pathways involving the Raf proto-oncogene

The raf genes encode for a family of cytoplasmic proteins (A-raf, B-raf and c-raf-1) with associated serine/threonine kinase activities. Raf-1 is an important mediator of signals involving cell growth, transformation and differentiation. It is activated in response to a wide variety of extracellular stimuli such as insulin, nerve growth factor (NGF), platelet derived-growth factor (PDGF), and in response to expression of oncogenes, v-src and v-ras, in a cell-specific manner. Recently, the first physiological substrate for Raf-1 protein kinase was identified. Raf-1 was found to phosphorylate and activate Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase Kinase (MEK), an activator of MAP kinase, thus linking the Raf-1 signaling pathway with that of MAP kinase. Cell specific differences in signalling pathways involving Raf-1 and MAP kinase have also been discovered. Accumulating evidence indicates that membrane tyrosine kinases, ras, Raf-1, MEK and MAP kinase are interconnected via a complex network rather than via a linear pathway involving multiple substrates and feedback loops.

Oncogene activation: c-raf-1 gene mutations in experimental and naturally occurring tumors

We demonstrate here consistent point mutations of the c-raf-1 proto-oncogene, within a small region of the kinase domain, in a mouse model for chemical tumor induction. This is the first demonstration of point mutated raf genes in vivo, and the first isolation of activating in vivo point mutations in the kinase domain of a proto-oncogene. The specific region where these mutations are clustered also has biological significance. This is precisely the region where 5/5 independently generated monoclonal antibodies raised against Raf-1 map to [29], and predictions based upon the crystal structure of A kinase identify this as the substrate pocket. The tumors examined show a selective specificity for Raf-1 mutations in that another family of genes, the ras proto-oncogenes which are frequently activated by point mutation in both animal and human tumors [15-21,26], is not involved. Our consistent finding of Raf-1 mutations in a mouse tumor model also has consequences for further evaluation of the role of Raf-1 in human tumor development, as it emphasizes the need to examine c-raf-1 at the sequence level. In fact preliminary screening of human lung tumors indicates point mutations at amino acid 533 (John Lyons, personal communication). Finally, the cumulative data on the critical role of Raf-1 in signal transduction and the occurrence of oncogenic Raf-1 in tumors [32-41] highlight this enzyme as an attractive target for development of novel anticancer regimens.

Raf-1 activates MAP kinase-kinase

The normal cellular homologue of the acutely transforming oncogene v-raf is c-raf-1, which encodes a serine/threonine protein kinase that is activated by many extracellular stimuli. The physiological substrates of the protein c-Raf-1 are unknown. The mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinases Erk1 and 2 are also activated by mitogens through phosphorylation of Erk tyrosine and threonine residues catalysed by a protein kinase of relative molecular mass 50,000, MAP kinase-kinase (MAPK-K). Here we report that MAPK-K as well as Erk1 and 2 are constitutively active in v-raf-transformed cells. MAPK-K partially purified from v-raf-transformed cells or from mitogen-treated cells can be deactivated by phosphatase 2A. c-Raf-1 purified after mitogen stimulation can reactivate the phosphatase 2A-inactivated MAPK-K over 30-fold in vitro. c-Raf-1 reactivation of MAPK-K coincides with the selective phosphorylation at serine/threonine residues of a polypeptide with M(r) 50,000 which coelutes precisely on cation-exchange chromatography with the MAPK-K activatable by c-Raf-1. These results indicate that c-Raf-1 is an immediate upstream activator of MAPK-K in vivo. To our knowledge, MAPK-K is the first physiological substrate of the c-raf-1 protooncogene product to be identified.

Transformation of a mammary epithelial cell line by the v-raf and v-mos oncogenes

Defective retroviruses were used to investigate the effects of the oncogenes v-raf and v-mos on the behaviour of mammary epithelial cells. Cultures of the mammary epithelial cell lines #43 and NMuMG infected with either virus showed obvious areas of overgrowing cells, which were not seen when cells were infected with control viruses not containing an oncogene. Several clonal cell lines were derived from the areas of overgrowth on #43 cells. Most of these were tumorigenic on subcutaneous inoculation. In culture, several of the cloned lines showed marked morphological abnormalities, had altered rates of growth and saturation densities, and were able to clone in soft agar. Unexpectedly, one raf-containing and one mos-containing line grew more slowly in culture than did control or uninfected cells. Other lines showed only some of these changes. In the mos-containing lines the level of viral transcript corresponded approximately to the extent of transformation, whereas the raf-containing lines showed no such correlation.

Induction of transformation and DNA synthesis after microinjection of raf proteins

Full-length and N-terminal deletion mutants of human c-raf-1 cDNA were cloned into Escherichia coli expression plasmids. Bacterially expressed c-raf proteins were purified by anion-exchange, gel filtration, and affinity chromatography. Microinjection of mutant c-raf proteins into G0-arrested NIH 3T3 cells induced DNA synthesis and morphological transformation, whereas microinjection of full-length c-raf had no effect. The amino terminus of the raf protein has an important negative regulatory influence; alteration of this region resulted in increased kinase activity and oncogenicity.

Induction of transformation and DNA synthesis after microinjection of raf proteins

Full-length and N-terminal deletion mutants of human c-raf-1 cDNA were cloned into Escherichia coli expression plasmids. Bacterially expressed c-raf proteins were purified by anion-exchange, gel filtration, and affinity chromatography. Microinjection of mutant c-raf proteins into G0-arrested NIH 3T3 cells induced DNA synthesis and morphological transformation, whereas microinjection of full-length c-raf had no effect. The amino terminus of the raf protein has an important negative regulatory influence; alteration of this region resulted in increased kinase activity and oncogenicity.

Mutational activation of c-raf-1 and definition of the minimal transforming sequence

A series of wild-type and mutant raf genes was transfected into NIH 3T3 cells and analyzed for transforming activity. Full-length wild-type c-raf did not show transforming activity. Two types of mutations resulted in oncogenic activity similar to that of v-raf: truncation of the amino-terminal half of the protein and fusion of the full-length molecule to gag sequences. A lower level of activation was observed for a mutant with a tetrapeptide insertion mapping to conserved region 2 (CR2), a serine- and threonine-rich domain located 100 residues amino-terminal of the kinase domain. To determine essential structural features of the transforming region of raf, we analyzed point and deletion mutants of v-raf. Substitutions of Lys-56 modulated the transforming activity, whereas mutation of Lys-53, a putative ATP binding residue, abolished it. Deletion analysis established that the minimal transforming sequence coincided precisely with CR3, the conserved Raf kinase domain. Thus, oncogenic activation of the Raf kinase can be achieved by removal of CR1 and CR2 or by steric distortion and requires retention of an active kinase domain. These findings are consistent with a protein structure model for the nonstimulated enzyme in which the active site is buried within the protein.

Mutational activation of c-raf-1 and definition of the minimal transforming sequence

A series of wild-type and mutant raf genes was transfected into NIH 3T3 cells and analyzed for transforming activity. Full-length wild-type c-raf did not show transforming activity. Two types of mutations resulted in oncogenic activity similar to that of v-raf: truncation of the amino-terminal half of the protein and fusion of the full-length molecule to gag sequences. A lower level of activation was observed for a mutant with a tetrapeptide insertion mapping to conserved region 2 (CR2), a serine- and threonine-rich domain located 100 residues amino-terminal of the kinase domain. To determine essential structural features of the transforming region of raf, we analyzed point and deletion mutants of v-raf. Substitutions of Lys-56 modulated the transforming activity, whereas mutation of Lys-53, a putative ATP binding residue, abolished it. Deletion analysis established that the minimal transforming sequence coincided precisely with CR3, the conserved Raf kinase domain. Thus, oncogenic activation of the Raf kinase can be achieved by removal of CR1 and CR2 or by steric distortion and requires retention of an active kinase domain. These findings are consistent with a protein structure model for the nonstimulated enzyme in which the active site is buried within the protein.

Immortalization of macrophages from mouse bone marrow and fetal liver

Fresh bone marrow (BM)-derived cells infected with the J2 recombinant retrovirus (carrying v-myc and v-raf/mil oncogenes) grow as immortal cell lines belonging to the monocytic lineage. BM cells cultured for 24 h in conventional medium are no longer able to grow following infection with the J2 virus. We investigated whether specific growth factors affected the proliferative response of BM cells to the J2 virus. If the BM cells were cultured for 24 h in the presence of concanavalin A or CSF-1 and then infected with the J2 virus, immortalization of BM cells was observed. Under these conditions, the cell lines that we obtained were shown to belong to the monocytic lineage. We investigated whether target cells for the J2 virus existed in other hematopoietic organs. We observed J2-induced proliferation in fetal liver (FL) but not in spleen or thymus. The cells proliferating in the FL had macrophage characteristics during the early passages. However, some macrophage markers were lost upon extensive in vitro culture. We conclude that we have identified conditions in which J2 virus consistently and selectively stimulates the growth of macrophages from murine bone marrow and a wider range of hematopoietic cells from fetal liver.

Development of an in vitro model of tumor progression using v-raf and v-raf/v-myc transformed rat liver epithelial cells: correlation of tumorigenicity with the downregulation of specific proteins

A series of clonal cell lines were derived from rat liver epithelial cells after being infected with a defective retrovirus containing either v-raf (3611-MSV) or v-raf/v-myc(J2) together with a helper virus. These clones exhibited a different morphology from the regular cuboid shape of the control cells, infected only with the helper virus. All of the infected cell lines contained at least one full length copy of appropriate proviral DNA and expressed comparable levels of v-raf mRNA, although only the cells transformed with the v-raf/v-myc combination were capable of anchorage-independent growth in soft agar. All of the clones except the controls formed tumors in nude mice but with markedly different latency periods and growth rates. Thus, these cell lines represent an in vitro model for tumor progression. Two-dimensional polyacrylamide electrophoresis was used to investigate changes in cellular protein expression related to malignant conversion. The expression of three proteins of pI/Mr x 10(-3) 5.9-7.2/205 (RP1), 6.5-7.5/160 (RP2) and 4.0/85 (RP3) consistently matched the transformed phenotype. In particular the expression of RP1 and RP2 correlated with the relative tumorigenicity of the cell lines. Rat liver epithelial cell lines transformed by other protocols that did not involve v-raf also showed downregulation of these three polypeptides. Crude fractionation studies determined RP1 to be soluble and RP2 and RP3 to be membrane associated. RP2 was shown to be a glycoprotein containing mannose and galactose residues. These three proteins are consistent markers for the tumorigenic potential of rat liver epithelial cells.

An altered v-raf is required in addition to v-myc in J3V1 virus for acceleration of murine plasmacytomagenesis

We have isolated and molecularly cloned a highly pathogenic virus variant, J3V1, from murine plasmacytomas induced by a combination of pristane and the weakly transforming recombinant retrovirus J3. J3 virus is a derivative of the v-raf/v-myc-carrying J2 virus that was generated by a frameshifting deletion inactivating v-raf in J2. J3V1 contains an additional deletion of 334 base paris in gag, which restores the correct reading frame for v-raf and results in the expression of a p57 gag-raf fusion protein. Reactivation of v-raf in J3 is required for efficient plasmacytoma acceleration in pristane-conditioned BALB/cAn mice.

Genetic alterations in primary breast cancer

A serious effort has been made to identify and characterize mutations that frequently occur during the evolution of primary human breast cancer. Some of these mutations involve amplification of protooncogenes (c-myc, c-erbB-2, and int-2) that have been shown to contribute to experimentally induced breast cancer in mouse model systems. Tumor development in mice containing the c-myc or c-erbB-2 transgene suggests that the cellular and developmental contexts in which the genes are expressed define their relative contribution to tumorigenesis. Homozygous deletions or loss of heterozygosity (LOH) represent another type of mutation that has been frequently observed on four chromosomes (1q, 3p, 11p, and 13q) in tumor DNA. They are thought to unmask recessive mutations (LOH) that inactivate or remove (homozygous deletion) suppressor genes that regulate normal cell proliferation. Attempts to determine whether specific mutations are associated with certain clinical parameters have led to the controversial hypothesis that some mutations may be useful prognostic indicators of the post-surgical course of the disease. The current results underscore the necessity for much larger, better control studies to unambiguously define the potential of such mutations as clinical markers.

Definition of the human raf amino-terminal regulatory region by deletion mutagenesis

Activation of transforming potential of the cellular raf gene has uniformly been associated with the deletion of amino-terminal coding sequences. In order to determine whether 5' truncation alone could activate cellular raf, we constructed 21 human c-raf-1 cDNAs with variable BAL 31-generated deletions distal to a Moloney murine sarcoma virus long terminal repeat and a consensus translation initiation sequence. The deletions ranged from 136 to 1,399 nucleotides of coding sequence and shortened the 648-amino-acid raf protein by 44 to 465 amino acids. The full-length c-raf-1 cDNA was nontransforming upon transfection of NIH 3T3 cells, as were four mutants with deletions of 142 or fewer amino acids. Seven of nine mutants with deletions of 154 to 273 amino acids induced transformation with efficiencies ranging from 0.25 to 70 foci per micrograms of DNA. Mutants with deletions of 303 to 324 amino acids displayed high transforming activities (comparable with that of v-raf), with a peak activity of 2,400 foci per microgram of DNA when 305 amino acids were deleted. Deletions of greater than 383 amino acids, extending into the raf kinase domain, lacked transforming activity. Northern (RNA) blotting and immunoprecipitation assays indicated that transfected NIH cells expressed raf RNAs and proteins of the expected sizes. Thus, 5' truncation alone can activate raf transforming potential, with a sharp peak of activation around amino acid 300. Analysis of three raf genes previously detected by transfection of tumor DNAs indicated that these genes were activated by recombination in raf intron 7 and encoded fusion proteins containing amino-terminal non-raf sequences. The extend of deletion of raf sequences in these recombinant genes corresponded to BAL 31 mutants which did not display high transforming activity, suggesting that the fused non-raf coding sequences may also contribute to biological activity.

Definition of the human raf amino-terminal regulatory region by deletion mutagenesis

Activation of transforming potential of the cellular raf gene has uniformly been associated with the deletion of amino-terminal coding sequences. In order to determine whether 5' truncation alone could activate cellular raf, we constructed 21 human c-raf-1 cDNAs with variable BAL 31-generated deletions distal to a Moloney murine sarcoma virus long terminal repeat and a consensus translation initiation sequence. The deletions ranged from 136 to 1,399 nucleotides of coding sequence and shortened the 648-amino-acid raf protein by 44 to 465 amino acids. The full-length c-raf-1 cDNA was nontransforming upon transfection of NIH 3T3 cells, as were four mutants with deletions of 142 or fewer amino acids. Seven of nine mutants with deletions of 154 to 273 amino acids induced transformation with efficiencies ranging from 0.25 to 70 foci per micrograms of DNA. Mutants with deletions of 303 to 324 amino acids displayed high transforming activities (comparable with that of v-raf), with a peak activity of 2,400 foci per microgram of DNA when 305 amino acids were deleted. Deletions of greater than 383 amino acids, extending into the raf kinase domain, lacked transforming activity. Northern (RNA) blotting and immunoprecipitation assays indicated that transfected NIH cells expressed raf RNAs and proteins of the expected sizes. Thus, 5' truncation alone can activate raf transforming potential, with a sharp peak of activation around amino acid 300. Analysis of three raf genes previously detected by transfection of tumor DNAs indicated that these genes were activated by recombination in raf intron 7 and encoded fusion proteins containing amino-terminal non-raf sequences. The extend of deletion of raf sequences in these recombinant genes corresponded to BAL 31 mutants which did not display high transforming activity, suggesting that the fused non-raf coding sequences may also contribute to biological activity.

Malignant transformation of human bladder epithelial cells by DNA transfection with the v-raf oncogene

Transfection of the v-raf oncogene into immortalized, nontumorigenic human bladder epithelial cells resulted in the isolation of two tumorigenic transformants. Both were identified as human and of the same origin as the parent cell line by human leukocyte antigen typing and Southern blot analysis. Both the primary tumorigenic transfectants and the cell lines established from the induced tumors expressed v-raf mRNA and v-raf protein. In both tumorigenic transformants the level of c-myc mRNA was enhanced compared with that of the parent cell line.

Expression of c-raf-1 and A-raf-1 during regeneration of rat liver following surgical partial hepatectomy

The major objective of this study was to investigate the expression of members of the raf family of proto-oncogenes during rat liver regeneration. The steady-state level of expression of both c-raf-1 and A-raf-1 increased three- to fivefold 18-24 h following partial hepatectomy, and it returned to basal levels by 72 h. Expression of c-myc and Ha-ras mRNA was increased at 3 and 18-24 h, respectively, confirming previous reports. Increased steady-state levels of c-raf-1, A-raf-1, and Ha-ras mRNA were also detected in hepatocytes isolated from rat liver 24 h after partial hepatectomy. Thus, elevated expression of the raf genes closely correlated with that of Ha-ras, beginning at 12 h and reaching maximal levels during the first peak of DNA synthesis following partial hepatectomy.

In vitro proliferation of human large granular lymphocytes with v-raf/v-myc recombinant retrovirus

The effect of infection with a retrovirus carrying v-raf/v-myc oncogenes (J2 virus) on the in vitro proliferation of human large granular lymphocytes (LGL) was investigated. LGL infected with J2 virus (J2LGL), unlike uninfected cells, grew with a proliferation peak eight days after infection. Such cells retained the morphology and functional properties typical of LGL. Furthermore, 5% of J2LGL produced virus the day after infection, whereas non-virus production was detectable five days later. These data indicate that J2 virus provides a transient mitogenic signal for LGL.

Phorbol ester stimulates the synthesis of sphingomyelin in NIH 3T3 cells. A diminished response in cells transformed with human A-raf carrying retrovirus

The tumor promoter 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA) stimulated the synthesis of sphingomyelin (CerPCho) from a [14C]choline-labelled phosphatidylcholine (PtdCho) pool in NIH 3T3 cells. Maximal stimulation (68%) of CerPCho synthesis, accompanied by an increase (38%) in its cellular content, required only 2 nM TPA. Higher concentrations of TPA (2-100 nM) had progressively less effect on CerPCho synthesis which correlated with increased hydrolysis of precursor PtdCho. In cells transformed with human or mouse A-raf carrying retroviruses TPA-stimulated PtdCho hydrolysis, but not CerPCho synthesis, suggesting independent regulation of these processes by the TPA-stimulated signal transduction system.

Mapping by in vitro constructs of the P100gag-mil region, accounting for induction of chicken neuroretina cell proliferation

The v-mil oncogene of the avian retrovirus MH2 is expressed as a fusion protein with viral gag determinants in infected cells. This P100gag-mil protein accounts for the proliferation of chicken embryo neuroretina cells (CNR) induced by MH2 in vitro. We constructed a series of mutants by in-frame deletions in different parts of the gag and mil domains and tested their ability to induce CNR growth. We show that gag sequences, as well as 200-base-pair 5' mil sequences, were not required to induce such a proliferation. However, gag sequences seem to contribute to a full proliferation of growing CNR. In contrast, deletions in the kinase domain abolish this induction. In particular, by deleting only 9 nucleotides localized around the unique SphI site of v-mil, we produced a totally inactive mutant (BalSp). This mutant directs the synthesis of a v-mil protein lacking the dipeptide Tyr-Leu, which is conserved in almost all the members of the large protein kinase family, and a histidine residue highly conserved in Ser-Thr protein kinase members.

Neoplastic transformation and lineage switching of rat liver epithelial cells by retrovirus-associated oncogenes

Tumors produced by a chemically transformed rat liver epithelial (RLE) cell line and its single cell-derived clonal subpopulations demonstrate wide-ranging morphological presentations including carcinomas, sarcomas, "mixed epithelial-mesenchymal" tumors, and undifferentiated tumors [Am J Pathol 127:168-181, 1987]. To address the question of heterogeneity of tumors derived from transformed RLE cells, we have used recombinant retroviruses containing the following transforming oncogenes: v-raf (3611-MSV), v-raflv-myc (J2), v-myc (J5), and v-Ha-ras (pRNR16). All of the oncogenes, with the exception of v-myc (J5), were efficient transforming agents in the RLE cells. Tumors derived from the v-raf- and, to a lesser extent, those from v-Ha-ras-transformed RLE cells showed mixed epithelial-mesenchymal morphology, whereas the combination of v-raflv-myc (J2) consistently produced differentiated trabecular carcinomas. These data suggest that the lineage commitment of the RLE cells can be perturbed by a single transforming oncogene and that different tumor types derived from these cells may reflect the expression of a selective oncogene or a combination of oncogenes.

One- and two-step transformations of rat thyroid epithelial cells by retroviral oncogenes

A system of epithelial cells is described in which it is possible to study the number and the nature of genes capable of conferring the malignant phenotype. Two fully differentiated, hormone-responsive cell lines from rat thyroid glands are presented which are susceptible to one-step or two-step transformation upon infection with several murine acute retroviruses. After infection, both cell lines became independent from their thyrotropic hormone requirement for growth. However, complete transformation was achieved with one of the cell lines (FRTL-5 Cl 2), whereas the other cell line (PC Cl 3) failed to grow in agar and to give rise to tumors in vivo. The latter cell line was susceptible to complete transformation upon cooperation of the v-ras-Ha and the human c-myc oncogenes.

One- and two-step transformations of rat thyroid epithelial cells by retroviral oncogenes

A system of epithelial cells is described in which it is possible to study the number and the nature of genes capable of conferring the malignant phenotype. Two fully differentiated, hormone-responsive cell lines from rat thyroid glands are presented which are susceptible to one-step or two-step transformation upon infection with several murine acute retroviruses. After infection, both cell lines became independent from their thyrotropic hormone requirement for growth. However, complete transformation was achieved with one of the cell lines (FRTL-5 Cl 2), whereas the other cell line (PC Cl 3) failed to grow in agar and to give rise to tumors in vivo. The latter cell line was susceptible to complete transformation upon cooperation of the v-ras-Ha and the human c-myc oncogenes.

Rat c-raf oncogene activation by a rearrangement that produces a fused protein

In a previous study, activated rat c-raf was detected by an NIH 3T3 cell transfection assay, and a rearrangement was demonstrated in the 5' half of the sequence of the gene. In the present study, the cDNAs of normal and activated rat c-raf were analyzed. Results showed that the activated c-raf gene is transcribed to produce a fused mRNA, in which the 5' half of the sequence is replaced by an unknown rat sequence. This mRNA codes a fused c-raf protein. The normal and activated c-raf cDNAs were each connected to the long terminal repeat of Rous sarcoma virus and transfected into NIH 3T3 cells. Only the activated form had transforming activity. We conclude that the rearrangement is responsible for the activation of c-raf.

Expression of a fms-related oncogene in carcinogen-induced neoplastic epithelial cells

Following carcinogen exposure in vitro, normal rat tracheal epithelial cells are transformed in a multistage process in which the cultured cells become immortal and, ultimately, neoplastic. Five cell lines derived from tumors produced by neoplastically transformed rat tracheal epithelial cells were examined for the expression of 11 cellular oncogenes previously implicated in pulmonary or epithelial carcinogenesis. RNA homologous to fms was expressed at a level 5-19 times higher than normal tracheal epithelial cells in three of five of the tumor-derived lines. All three lines expressing high levels of fms-related RNA gave rise to invasive tumors of epithelial origin when injected into nude mice. Increased expression of the fms-related mRNA was not due to gene amplification, and no gene rearrangement was detected by Southern analyses. RNA blot analysis using a 3' v-fms probe detected a 9.5-kilobase message in the three tumor-derived lines, whereas both normal rat alveolar macrophages and the human choriocarcinoma line BeWo expressed a fms transcript of approximately 4 kilobases. We conclude from these data that the gene expressed as a 9.5-kilobase transcript in these neoplastic epithelial cells is a member of a fms-related gene family but may be distinct from the gene that encodes the macrophage colony-stimulating factor (CSF-1) receptor.

Rat c-raf oncogene activation by a rearrangement that produces a fused protein

In a previous study, activated rat c-raf was detected by an NIH 3T3 cell transfection assay, and a rearrangement was demonstrated in the 5' half of the sequence of the gene. In the present study, the cDNAs of normal and activated rat c-raf were analyzed. Results showed that the activated c-raf gene is transcribed to produce a fused mRNA, in which the 5' half of the sequence is replaced by an unknown rat sequence. This mRNA codes a fused c-raf protein. The normal and activated c-raf cDNAs were each connected to the long terminal repeat of Rous sarcoma virus and transfected into NIH 3T3 cells. Only the activated form had transforming activity. We conclude that the rearrangement is responsible for the activation of c-raf.

Characterization of murine A-raf, a new oncogene related to the v-raf oncogene

A 1.6-kilobase cDNA (A-raf) has been isolated from a murine spleen cDNA library which encodes part of a protein related to the raf oncogene. Its amino acid sequence has 85% homology to raf in a central portion of 100 amino acids. In contrast to raf, A-raf shows a highly restricted tissue distribution of expression, with highest levels observed in epididymis, followed by intestine. When incorporated into a retrovirus, the resulting gag-A-raf fusion gene causes transformation in vitro and induces tumors in newborn mice. Thus, A-raf represents a new proto-oncogene. Transformation by A-raf is independent of ras gene function, as is the case for raf and mos but not other oncogenes.

Identification of the protein encoded by the human diffuse B-cell lymphoma (dbl) oncogene

The dbl oncogene was initially isolated from a human diffuse B-cell lymphoma. Antisera from mice bearing tumors induced by this oncogene specifically detected a protein of about 66 kDa (p66) in dbl transformants. dbl cDNA-selected poly(A)+ RNA isolated from a transfectant clone expressing p66 directed the in vitro synthesis of this protein, establishing that it is encoded by dbl. Subcellular localization studies revealed that p66 is a cytoplasmic protein distributed between cytosol and crude membrane fractions. Moreover, p66 was shown to be a phosphoprotein, with phosphorylation specific to serine residues. Our characterization of the dbl-encoded protein appears to distinguish this transforming gene product from those of other known oncogenes.

Characterization of murine A-raf, a new oncogene related to the v-raf oncogene

A 1.6-kilobase cDNA (A-raf) has been isolated from a murine spleen cDNA library which encodes part of a protein related to the raf oncogene. Its amino acid sequence has 85% homology to raf in a central portion of 100 amino acids. In contrast to raf, A-raf shows a highly restricted tissue distribution of expression, with highest levels observed in epididymis, followed by intestine. When incorporated into a retrovirus, the resulting gag-A-raf fusion gene causes transformation in vitro and induces tumors in newborn mice. Thus, A-raf represents a new proto-oncogene. Transformation by A-raf is independent of ras gene function, as is the case for raf and mos but not other oncogenes.

Activation of rat c-raf during transfection of hepatocellular carcinoma DNA

Rat c-raf was found to be activated in a transformant obtained with DNA of a hepatocellular carcinoma induced by 2-amino-3-methylimidazo[4,5-f]quinoline. This activated c-raf was cloned in a cosmid vector and actively transforming clones were obtained. Comparison of the restriction maps of this activated c-raf and cloned normal rat c-raf revealed a recombination in the 5'-terminal region of the activated form of this gene. The recombined DNA was shown to be actively transcribed and possibly to form a fused mRNA with c-raf, which is slightly smaller than normal c-raf mRNA. Since this recombination was not detected in the original tumor by Southern blot analysis, it presumably occurred during transfection.

Interaction between Raf and Myc oncogenes in transformation in vivo and in vitro

3611 MSV, a raf-oncogene-transducing murine retrovirus, induces fibrosarcomas and erythroid hyperplasia in newborn mice after a latency of 4-8 wk. In contrast, new recombinant murine retroviruses carrying the myc oncogene (J-3, J-5 construct viruses) do not induce tumors before greater than 9 wk. A combination of both oncogenes in an infectious murine retrovirus (J-2) induces hematopoietic neoplasms in addition to less prominent fibrosarcomas and pancreatic adenocarcinoma 1-3 wk after inoculation. The hematologic neoplasms consist of immunoblastic lymphomas of T and B cell lineage and erythroblastosis. If animals were inoculated with a variant of the J-3 virus, which induces altered foci in cultures of NIH 3T3 cells, carcinoma developed in the pancreas with a 2-6 mo latency. In parallel to the synergistic action of both oncogenes on hematopoietic cells in vivo, we find that raf-oncogene-induced transformation of bone marrow cells in culture is enhanced by the addition of myc, which by itself does not transform these cells when grown in standard media. We conclude that concomitant expression of raf and myc oncogenes in hematopoietic and epithelial cells alters their respective transforming activities. The contribution of v-myc in this synergism was examined by use of a series of recombinant murine retroviruses capable of expressing the avian v-myc to study the effect of altered myc expression on hematopoietic/lymphoid cells. With either interleukin 3- or interleukin 2-dependent cell lines, introduction of the recombinant viruses abrogated the requirement for IL 3 or IL 2 for growth, and associated with this was the suppression of c-myc expression. The findings suggest that myc is a component in the signal transduction pathway for IL 3 and IL 2 and support an autoregulatory mechanism of c-myc expression. In contrast to v-myc, expression of v-raf in primary lymphoid/hematopoietic cells has an immortalizing function without abrogating the requirement for IL 3 for growth. This suggests that v-raf and v-myc affect different components of growth regulation, as, for example, commitment (v-myc) and cell cycle progression (v-raf).

Selective immortalization of murine macrophages from fresh bone marrow by a raf/myc recombinant murine retrovirus

Myeloid precursors can be grown in vitro in the presence of specific growth factors; however, their expansion is limited by a competing process of terminal differentiation. Proto-oncogenes seem to be involved in cellular proliferation and/or differentiation and may also play a role in the myelopoietic process. Murine myeloid precursors which are grown in vitro with growth factors respond with augmented self-renewal upon infection with recombinant retroviruses carrying the v-myc or v-src oncogenes, suggesting a synergism or complementation between some viral oncogenes (v-onc) and certain growth factors. We now show that the combination of two v-onc genes (raf and myc) induces the selective proliferation of monocytic cells from fresh murine bone marrow (BM) in the absence of a specific growth factor supplement. Depending on the culture conditions these cells can either differentiate and cease to proliferate or grow continuously, thus mimicking the alternative pathways that can be followed by committed BM stem cells in vivo.

Detection of the myristylated gag-raf transforming protein with raf-specific antipeptide sera

The post-translational modifications of the gag-raf fusion proteins of the 3611 murine sarcoma virus (MSV) have been examined by inhibiting glycosylation with tunicamycin and by in vivo labeling with [3H]myristic acid. The results show that P75gag-raf is myristylated but not glycosylated and that P90gag-raf is glycosylated but not myristylated (and is now termed gP90gag-raf). gP90gag-raf expression appeared to become lost during passage of the transformed cells, and consequently does not appear to be necessary for the maintenance of transformation. raf-specific sera for detecting gag-raf fusion proteins have been obtained from synthetic peptides made from different regions of the predicted v-raf sequence. Immunoprecipitation of P75gag-raf with raf-specific sera directly confirmed the deduced v-raf sequence. The fact that P75gag-raf is both myristylated and precipitated by antiserum to a predicted carboxyl-terminal peptide of the v-raf gene established that the mature protein represents the entire coding region. The gP90gag-raf thus appears to be a glycosylated form of P75gag-raf specified by the gag sequences of the fusion protein, in analogy with Pr65gag and gPr80gag of murine leukemia viruses. Antiserum to the carboxyl-terminal P75gag-raf peptide was the most efficient in immunoprecipitation, and will be useful for detecting the product of the c-raf gene.

Abrogation of IL-3 and IL-2 dependence by recombinant murine retroviruses expressing v-myc oncogenes

Several oncogenes are thought to cause transformation by affecting the signal transmission pathway of growth factors. One example is the induction of c-myc, the cellular homologue of the avian transforming oncogene v-myc, by platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) among a set of genes associated with competence induction in fibroblasts. Another of the competence genes, r-fos, has been shown to be related to v-fos, the transforming gene of the FBJ sarcoma virus. In addition, PDGF induces c-fos, the cellular homologue of v-fos. The importance of c-myc induction is suggested by the observation that c-myc, under the control of a glucocorticoid regulator, can partially relieve the requirement of fibroblasts for PDGF. We have examined the effects of oncogenes on haematopoietic/lymphoid cell differentiation, immortalization and factor dependence for growth. Here we report the effects of recombinant murine retroviruses capable of expressing the avian v-myc. With interleukin-3 (IL-3)- or interleukin-2 (IL-2)-dependent cells, the viruses abrogated the requirement for growth factors and suppressed c-myc expression.

Structure and biological activity of human homologs of the raf/mil oncogene

Two human genes homologous to the raf/mil oncogene have been cloned and sequenced. One, c-raf-2, is a processed pseudogene; the other, c-raf-1, contains nine exons homologous to both raf and mil and two additional exons homologous to mil. A 3' portion of c-raf-1 containing six of the seven amino acid differences relative to murine v-raf can substitute for the 3' portion of v-raf in a transformation assay. Sequence homologies between c-raf-1 and Moloney leukemia virus at both ends of v-raf indicate that the viral gene was acquired by homologous recombination. Although the data are consistent with the traditional model of retroviral transduction, they also raise the possibility that the transduction occurred in a double crossover event between proviral DNA and the murine gene.

Molecular cloning of an activated human oncogene, homologous to v-raf, from primary stomach cancer

Transfection with high molecular weight DNA from a primary stomach cancer induced foci of transformed NIH 3T3 cells, and the transformed cells were tumorigenic in nude mice. By screening with a human Alu-family probe, we isolated the human DNA sequence from the secondary transformant cells. This transforming sequence encompasses about 60 kilobase pairs and is unrelated to known human transforming genes. Examination of homologies between this sequence and retroviral oncogenes revealed that the human transforming sequence is closely related to the v-raf oncogene of murine transforming retrovirus 3611-MSV.

Rapid induction of hemopoietic neoplasms in newborn mice by a raf(mil)/myc recombinant murine retrovirus

3611 MSV, a raf oncogene-transducing murine retrovirus, induced fibrosarcomas in newborn mice after a latency of 4 to 8 weeks. In contrast, newly constructed recombinant murine retroviruses carrying the myc oncogene did not induce tumors before greater than or equal to 9 weeks. A combination of both oncogenes in an infectious murine retrovirus induced hematopoietic neoplasms in addition to less prominent fibrosarcomas and pancreatic acinar dysplasia 1 to 3 weeks after inoculation. The hematological neoplasms consisted of immunoblastic lymphomas of T- and B-lineage cells and erythroblastosis. Cell lines from these tumors could be readily established in culture in regular medium, whereas culture of cells from raf oncogene-induced tumors required the addition of interleukin 3. In parallel to the synergistic action of both oncogenes on hematopoietic cells in vivo, we found that raf oncogene-induced transformation of fibroblast cell lines in culture was enhanced by the addition of myc, which by itself did not morphologically transform these permanent cell lines. We conclude that concomitant expression of raf and myc oncogenes in hematopoietic cells and fibroblastic cell lines enhances their respective transforming activities.

Structure and biological activity of human homologs of the raf/mil oncogene

Two human genes homologous to the raf/mil oncogene have been cloned and sequenced. One, c-raf-2, is a processed pseudogene; the other, c-raf-1, contains nine exons homologous to both raf and mil and two additional exons homologous to mil. A 3' portion of c-raf-1 containing six of the seven amino acid differences relative to murine v-raf can substitute for the 3' portion of v-raf in a transformation assay. Sequence homologies between c-raf-1 and Moloney leukemia virus at both ends of v-raf indicate that the viral gene was acquired by homologous recombination. Although the data are consistent with the traditional model of retroviral transduction, they also raise the possibility that the transduction occurred in a double crossover event between proviral DNA and the murine gene.