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Expression of protein kinase C‐alpha (PKC‐α) and MYCN mRNAs in human neuroblastoma cells and modulation during morphological differentiation induced by retinoic acid
Author(s) -
Tonini Gian Paolo,
Parodi Maria Teresa,
Di Martino Daniela,
Varesio Luigi
Publication year - 1991
Publication title -
febs letters
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.593
H-Index - 257
eISSN - 1873-3468
pISSN - 0014-5793
DOI - 10.1016/0014-5793(91)80297-g
Subject(s) - protein kinase c , retinoic acid , biology , messenger rna , microbiology and biotechnology , gene expression , cell culture , neurite , alternative splicing , cellular differentiation , neuroblastoma , gene , signal transduction , biochemistry , genetics , in vitro
It is known that PKC is differently expressed in brain and the peripheral nervous system and is involved in cellular differentiation. We have analyzed 9 human neuronal‐derived crest‐cell lines for PKC‐α mRNA. Seven out of nine expressed 9.0 kb and 4.0 kb PKC‐α mRNAs but three had high level of 9.0 kb transcription. The different expression of the two messenger RNAs may result from alternative splicing and a different degree of cell maturation. The same cell lines were studied for MYCN gene expression. A possible relation between the two genes is discussed. One cell line expressing high levels of both PKC‐α mRNA was treated with 10 −1 M retinoic acid (RA). The expression of both messenger RNAs was suppressed when the cells achieved a morphological differentiation and showed neurite‐like processes. A decrease of PKC‐α gene expression was associated to down regulation of MYCN mRNA. These preliminary results suggest that PKC suppression of PKC‐α mRNA is associated with reversion of the malignant phenotype.