The mdm2 oncogene encodes a 90-kilodalton nuclear phosphoprotein that binds and inactivates the p53 tumor suppressor protein. Here we report the observation of five alternatively spliced mdm2 gene transcripts in a range of human cancers and their absence in normal tissues. Transfection of NIH 3T3 cells with each of these forms gave foci of morphologically transformed cells. A higher frequency of splice variants lacking p53 binding domain sequences was found in late-stage and high-grade ovarian and bladder carcinomas. Four of the splice variants show loss of p53 binding, consistent with partial deletion of sequences encoding the p53 binding domain, but retain carboxyterminal zinc-finger domains. These observations suggest a reassessment of the transforming mechanisms of mdm2 and its relation to p53.
Journal article
1996-08-01T00:00:00+00:00
2
912 - 917
5
3T3 Cells, Alternative Splicing, Animals, Base Sequence, Cell Transformation, Neoplastic, DNA Primers, Disease Progression, Female, Humans, Leukemia, Mice, Molecular Sequence Data, Neoplasm Proteins, Nuclear Proteins, Ovarian Neoplasms, Protein Binding, Proto-Oncogene Proteins, Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-mdm2, RNA, Transformation, Genetic, Tumor Suppressor Protein p53, Urinary Bladder Neoplasms