An Activated ras N Gene: Detected in Late But Not Early Passage Human PA1 Teratocarcinoma Cells

• DOI: 10.1126/science.6740333
• Publication Date: 2006-10-05T19:41:59Z
• Authors: Michael A. Tainsky; Colin S. Cooper; B. C. Giovanella; George F. Vande W...
• Keywords: Teratocarcinoma

Early passages of the human teratocarcinoma cell line PA1 are not tumorigenic in nude mice, while late are. A transforming gene present cells was isolated as a biologically active molecular clone and is new isolate rasN locus. Its activity due to single G---A (G, guanine; A, adenine) point mutation at codon for amino acid 12 which changes glycine so that an aspartic residue expressed. In contrast passage (passages 106, 330, 338), DNA from early (passage 36) does yield foci transfection assays. Thus, presence activated correlates with enhanced tumorigenicity and, more importantly, may have arisen during culture vitro.