Premium
Selective expression of mRNA encoding platelet‐derived growth factor B chain following transfection of foreign genes into cell lines derived from baby hamster kidney
Author(s) -
Sakariassen Kjell S.,
Powell Jerry S.,
Raines Elaine W.,
Ross Russell
Publication year - 1989
Publication title -
journal of cellular biochemistry
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.028
H-Index - 165
eISSN - 1097-4644
pISSN - 0730-2312
DOI - 10.1002/jcb.240390110
Subject(s) - transfection , baby hamster kidney cell , hamster , gene , messenger rna , microbiology and biotechnology , biology , cell culture , gene expression , genetics
The genes for platelet‐derived growth factor (PDGF) A and PDGF B chains are expressed in a variety of biological situations. Active PDGF consists of two distinct but homologous polypeptide chains, PDGF A and PDGF B, which are found as heterodimers or homodimers. We report a novel situation in which there is selective expression of mRNA encoding PDGF B in cell lines derived from baby hamster kidney (BHK) following transfection with various gene/cDNA constructs and following growth selection with methotrexate. The process of transfection itself, and not expression of the proteins encoded by the transfected genes/cDNAs (hormones, enzymes, and structural proteins), induces expression of PDGF B. No PDGF B mRNA is detectable in control cell lines. Low levels of mRNA encoding PDGF A are constitutively present and are not changed by transfection and/or growth selection. PDGF‐like activity is present in the medium whenever PDGF B mRNA is detected. The composition of the secreted PDGF dimer cannot be established from our data, but quantitative analysis of mRNA suggests that the PDGF is a B‐B dimer. However, the data show that transcription of the PDGF A and PDGF B genes in BHK cells is regulated independently, similar to that reported for some human tumor cells. Furthermore, the selective expression of PDGF B in response to the introduction of foreign genes and to growth selection may be an important aspect of the reaction of these cells to nonoptimal growth conditions, allowing survival and growth of the cells that express PDGF B.