Tissue-specific expression of the K-ras allele from the A/J parent in (A/J x TSG-p53) F1 mice

Gene. 1997 Apr 1;188(2):261-9. doi: 10.1016/s0378-1119(96)00821-9.

Abstract

Tissue-specific expression of parental K-ras allele(s) was investigated by single-strand conformation polymorphism analysis of the 3' untranslated region of the K-ras gene in normal lung, spleen, liver and kidney from (A/J x TSG-p53) F1 mice. The expression of A/J K-ras allele was equal to that of C57BL/6J allele in normal spleen, liver and kidney. However, transcripts from A/J K-ras allele were found to be 2-12-times greater than those from C57BL/6J allele in lung tissues harvested over a 20-week period. Similar to our previous observation with dimethylnitrosamine- and benzo[a] pyrene-induced lung tumors, K-ras mRNA transcribed from A/J allele was 10-40-times more abundant than those from C57BL/6J allele in all of 40 (A/J x TSG-p53) F1 mouse lung tumors induced by 4-(methylnitrosamino)-1-(3-pyridyl)-1-butanone. In addition, K-ras mutations (G to A transitions at the second base of codon 12) were detected in 38 of 40 (95%) lung tumors and all of the mutations were found on the allele inherited from the A/J parent. These data demonstrate tissue-specific allele-specific transcription of the K-ras gene and provide further support to the thesis that K-ras allele itself is a primary mouse lung tumor susceptibility gene.

Publication types

  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Alleles*
  • Animals
  • Base Sequence
  • DNA
  • Female
  • Gene Expression Regulation*
  • Genes, ras*
  • Kidney / metabolism
  • Liver / metabolism
  • Lung / metabolism
  • Male
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred Strains
  • Molecular Sequence Data
  • Polymorphism, Genetic
  • Species Specificity
  • Spleen / metabolism

Substances

  • DNA

Associated data

  • GENBANK/U76425
  • GENBANK/U76426