Human retinoblastoma susceptibility gene: cloning, identification, and sequence

The Japan Society of Human Genetics award lecture. Cytogenetic aspects of cancer-predisposing genes

Some human monogenic syndromes are characterized by a high cancer propensity, and provide a pathway to the understanding of genetic origin of human cancers. In this review, cytogenetic insights into the Fanconi's anemia (FA) and retinoblastoma (RB) genes have been presented as the model for recessively and dominantly transmitted cancer-predisposing genes, respectively. Some recessively transmitted genes are unequivocally associated with abnormalities in DNA metabolisms and homozygosity increases the genome instability, and some dominantly inherited genes are categorized into loss-of-function mutation of tumor suppressing genes. While the identified syndromes themselves are uncommon and constitute a minor fraction in population, the heterozygote expression of recessive genes is our major concern of genetic predisposition to cancer, and mutation of tumor suppressing genes, identified as somatic mutation, plays a crucial role in the development of a variety of common cancers. Moreover, their possible non-Mendelian inheritance of mutational susceptibility leads us to an even more rewarding area of cancer genetics.

Point mutational inactivation of the retinoblastoma antioncogene

The retinoblastoma (Rb) antioncogene encodes a nuclear phosphoprotein, p105-Rb, that forms protein complexes with the adenovirus E1A and SV40 large T oncoproteins. A novel, aberrant Rb protein detected in J82 bladder carcinoma cells was not able to form a complex with E1A and was less stable than p105-Rb. By means of a rapid method for the detection of mutations in Rb mRNA, this defective Rb protein was observed to result from a single point mutation within a splice acceptor sequence in J82 genomic DNA. This mutation eliminates a single exon and 35 amino acids from its encoded protein product.

The human papilloma virus-16 E7 oncoprotein is able to bind to the retinoblastoma gene product

Deletions or mutations of the retinoblastoma gene, RB1, are common features of many tumors and tumor cell lines. Recently, the RB1 gene product, p105-RB, has been shown to form stable protein/protein complexes with the oncoproteins of two DNA tumor viruses, the adenovirus E1A proteins and the simian virus 40 (SV40) large T antigen. Neither of these viruses is thought to be associated with human cancer, but they can cause tumors in rodents. Binding between the RB anti-oncoprotein and the adenovirus or SV40 oncoprotein can be recapitulated in vitro with coimmunoprecipitation mixing assays. These assays have been used to demonstrate that the E7 oncoprotein of the human papilloma virus type-16 can form similar complexes with p105-RB. Human papilloma virus-16 is found associated with approximately 50 percent of cervical carcinomas. These results suggest that these three DNA viruses may utilize similar mechanisms in transformation and implicate RB binding as a possible step in human papilloma virus-associated carcinogenesis.

The scanning model for translation: an update

The small (40S) subunit of eukaryotic ribosomes is believed to bind initially at the capped 5'-end of messenger RNA and then migrate, stopping at the first AUG codon in a favorable context for initiating translation. The first-AUG rule is not absolute, but there are rules for breaking the rule. Some anomalous observations that seemed to contradict the scanning mechanism now appear to be artifacts. A few genuine anomalies remain unexplained.

SV40 large T antigen binds preferentially to an underphosphorylated member of the retinoblastoma susceptibility gene product family

Extracts of monkey cells (CV-1P) synthesizing SV40 large T antigen (T) were immunoprecipitated with monoclonal antibodies to T or p110-114Rb, the product of the retinoblastoma susceptibility gene (Rb). While a family of p110-114Rb proteins can be detected in anti-Rb immunoprecipitates, only one member of this family, p110Rb, was found in anti-T precipitates of these extracts. Identical results were obtained with extracts of CV-1P cells which had been previously mixed in vitro with highly purified T. The p110-114Rb family is composed of two sets--p110Rb, an un- or under-phosphorylated species, and pp112-114Rb, a group of overtly phosphorylated proteins. Thus, T bound preferentially to the un- or underphosphorylated member of the family. In addition, T failed to alter the relative abundances of these species. These results suggest a model in which the growth suppression function of Rb is down modulated either by phosphorylation or T antigen binding.

Major urinary protein as a negative tumor marker in mouse hepatocarcinogenesis

A cDNA clone isolated by differential screening of a mouse liver cDNA library using RNA probes from normal adult liver and from hepatocellular tumors showed, on northern blot analysis, a single transcript of 1 kb present at high levels in normal adult mouse liver but at 15- to 100-fold reduced levels in spontaneous and p-dimethylaminoazobenzene- or urethan-induced liver tumors. The transcript, which was absent in two-wk-old mouse liver, is coded by a developmentally regulated gene. Nucleotide sequence analysis demonstrated that the isolated clone encoded a major urinary protein (MUP). Immunocytochemistry analysis, using a goat antibody to MUP on histologic liver sections containing diethylnitrosamine-induced liver nodules, showed that the decrease in MUP levels also occurred in microscopic nodules. Therefore, MUP decrease represents an early event in the development of mouse liver tumors, and it may be used as a tumor marker in mouse hepatocarcinogenesis.

An important step in radiation carcinogenesis may be inactivation of cellular genes

The loss of genetic material may result in a predisposition to malignant disease. The best studied example is retinoblastoma where deletion or transcriptional inactivation of a specific gene is associated with the development of the tumor. When hereditary retinoblastoma patients are treated with radiation, the incidence of osteosarcoma within the treatment field is extremely high compared to other cancer patients treated with radiotherapy. These data, together with cytogenetic and molecular data on the development of acute non-lymphocytic leukemia secondary to radiotherapy and chemotherapy treatment suggest that radiation-induced deletions of critical DNA sequences may be an important event in radiation carcinogenesis. Therefore, we propose that radiation-induced tumors may result from deletion of tissue specific regulatory genes. Base alterations caused by radiation in dominantly transforming oncogenes may also contribute to radiation carcinogenesis.

Primary chromosome abnormalities in human neoplasia

At the cellular level, cancer is a genetic disease; genetic changes in somatic cells are essential events in neoplasia. In a majority of cases these changes involve large enough blocks of genetic material to be visible in the microscope. The chromosome aberrations in neoplastic disorders are probably of three kinds: (1) primary abnormalities, which are essential steps in establishing the tumor; (2) secondary abnormalities, which develop only after the tumor has developed, but which nevertheless may be important in tumor progression; and (3) cytogenetic noise, which is the background level of nonconsequential aberrations. These latter changes are, in contrast to the primary and secondary changes, randomly distributed throughout the genome. The primary abnormalities, of which several dozens have now been identified, are mostly strictly correlated with particular diseases and even with histopathological subtypes within a given disease. This has been evident in the leukemias for some years already, and information now accumulating on solid tumor karyology indicates a similar situation. Clonal chromosome abnormalities are a feature of both benign and malignant neoplasms, although the changes are often less massive in the former. Apart from being clinically useful as a diagnostic technique and an aid in prognostication, tumor cytogenetics also plays a role in identifying those genomic sites which harbor genes essential in the pathogenesis of neoplastic lesions. So far, two functionally different classes of directly cancer-relevant genes have been detected, the oncogenes and antioncogenes. There is every reason to believe that future investigations with cytogenetic and recombinant DNA methods will add to our knowledge of the biology of human neoplasia, in those tumor types where the characteristic genetic change is already partially known, and by identifying hitherto unknown karyotypic abnormalities.

Approach to the isolation of antiproliferative genes

Poly(A) RNAs from normal rat liver and senescent human fibroblasts appear to have more antiproliferative activity than RNAs from regenerating rat liver and early passage human fibroblasts. We have screened two rat liver and one human liver library by differential hybridization and isolated four candidate cDNAs for this antiproliferative activity; one is fibronectin and three others do not match to any sequence in the mammalian portion of the GENBANK database. We are currently testing the antiproliferative nature of these cDNAs by microinjection of hybrid-selected RNA, and we describe an alternative strategy for cloning such genes based on construction of a cDNA library in an RNA expression vector.

Molecular detection of chromosomal translocations that disrupt the putative retinoblastoma susceptibility locus

A candidate DNA sequence with many of the properties predicted for the retinoblastoma susceptibility (RB1) locus has been cloned (S. H. Friend, R. Bernards, S. Rogelj, R. A. Weinberg, J. M. Rapaport, D. M. Albert, and T. P. Dryja, Nature [London] 323:643-645, 1986). The large size of this gene (ca. 200 kilobases [kb]) and its multiple dispersed exons (Wiggs et al., N. Engl. J. Med. 318:151-157, 1988) complicate molecular screening strategies important in prenatal and presymptomatic diagnosis and in carrier detection. Here we used field inversion gel electrophoresis (FIGE) to construct a restriction map of approximately 1,000 kb of DNA surrounding the RB1 locus and to detect the translocation breakpoints in three retinoblastoma patients. DNA probes from either the 5' or 3' end of the gene were used to detect a 250-kb EagI restriction fragment in DNA from unaffected individuals. Both probes identified an additional hybridizing fragment in the DNA from each patient, permitting the breakpoints in all three to be mapped within the cloned RB1 gene. Analysis of the breakpoint in one translocation cell line allowed the RB1 gene to be oriented with its 5' end toward the centromere. The 5' end of the gene also appeared to be associated with a clustering of sites for several infrequently cleaving restriction enzymes, indicating the presence of an HpaII tiny fragment island. The detection and mapping of the translocation breakpoints of all three retinoblastoma patients to within the putative RB1 gene substantiated the authenticity of this candidate sequence and demonstrated the utility of FIGE in detecting chromosomal rearrangements affecting this locus.

Search for genes critical for the early and/or late events in carcinogenesis: studies in Xiphophorus (Pisces, Teleostei)

Southern blot analyses of the xiphophorine genome with probes specific for 15 viral and cellular oncogenes revealed that only three v-erbB related EcoRI fragments comprising 4.9 kb of a certain X, 11.5 kb of another X, and 6.7 kb of both a Y and a Z chromosome are inherited in parallel with the Tu complex and melanoma formation. They are accessory in the genome, and are highly homologous with each other and with an ubiquitous autosomal 7.5-kb fragment. The latter one is probably linked to the indispensable Tu complex that is postulated to be present in all individuals of Xiphophorus irrespective of whether they possess or lack the capacity to form melanoma in interspecific hybrids. Three restriction fragments, the X-chromosomal 4.9-kb, the Y-chromosomal 6.7-kb and the ubiquitous Tu-nonlinked 5.5-kb EcoRI fragments were cloned and sequenced. The X- and the Y-chromosomal fragments show perfect identity in the regions of the putative exons C and D of the EGF receptor gene and minor but significant differences to the putative exon C (exon D not identified) of the Tu-nonlinked fragment of 5.5 kb, indicating that at least two different types of x-erb B genes coding for slightly different EGF-receptors exist in the fish. Northern blot analyses revealed expression of the Tu-linked x-erbB genes (x-gfrB genes) in both transformed and nontransformed tissue, suggesting their essential role in regulation of normal cell proliferation and in carcinogenesis. We conclude that the indispensable x-egfrB genes remain unchanged and strictly regulated, while the sex chromosomal accessory x-egfrB genes possibly undergo dramatic changes in structure and/or function (e.g., unscheduled expression, ectopic expression, point mutations, truncation) leading to activation of the oncogenic potential of these genes, which in turn could induce several cellular events involved in the switch from the normal to the transformed state of the cell. In contrast, none of the x-erbA restriction fragments could be assigned to the Tu-complex or to any regulatory gene (R or S). These results, however, do not exclude the existence of a structural and/or functional relation between x-erbA genes and R and S genes. We therefore analyzed x-erbA genes by cloning, sequencing, and expression studies.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Characterization of two immunoglobulin VH genes that are homologous to human rheumatoid factors

We isolated a VH1 germline gene (Humhv1263) that is closely related to the heavy chains of 2 human rheumatoid factors (RF), Bor and Kas. We also found that the 783 rearranged VH1 gene is actually 91-93% homologous to Bor and Kas, and it differs from a VH1 complementary DNA (51P1) by only a single base. Thus, 783 is likely to be the unmutated form of a germline VH gene that may encode the heavy chains of RF Bor and Kas and several other human monoclonal RF.

Suppression of the neoplastic phenotype by replacement of the RB gene in human cancer cells

Mutational inactivation of the retinoblastoma susceptibility (RB) gene has been proposed as a crucial step in the formation of retinoblastoma and other types of human cancer. This hypothesis was tested by introducing, via retroviral-mediated gene transfer, a cloned RB gene into retinoblastoma or osteosarcoma cells that had inactivated endogenous RB genes. Expression of the exogenous RB gene affected cell morphology, growth rate, soft agar colony formation, and tumorigenicity in nude mice. This demonstration of suppression of the neoplastic phenotype by a single gene provides direct evidence for an essential role of the RB gene in tumorigenesis.

A human immunoglobulin gene reduces the incidence of lymphomas in c-Myc-bearing transgenic mice

Transgenic mice carrying an immunoglobulin enhancer-driven c-myc oncogene develop rapid-onset pre-B cell lymphomas. The incidence of these malignancies is greatly reduced when an additional transgene encoding the membrane-bound form (but not the secreted form) of human Ig mu is bred into the susceptible strain. This suppressive effect correlates with a subtle alteration in B-cell development induced by the immunoglobulin transgene.

Do human renal cell carcinomas arise by a double-loss mechanism?

Combined consideration of a constitutional t(3;8) that was regularly associated with renal cell carcinoma (RCC) within a large family and cytogenetic and restriction fragment length polymorphism studies on sporadic RCC has led to the tentative conclusion that RCC may arise by a similar double-loss mechanism as retinoblastoma and Wilms' tumor. This hypothesis predicts single-hit kinetics for the age distribution of hereditary RCC and two-hit kinetics for sporadic tumors, in analogy with Knudson's original prediction for retinoblastoma and Wilms' tumor. We have compared the age distribution of 51 hereditary and 56 sporadic cases of RCC sampled from the literature. The age-incidence curve of the hereditary RCC is compatible with a single event, whereas the sporadic tumors arise as predicted from a two-hit curve. We therefore suggest that RCC arises by the loss of a recessive cancer gene, probably localized to the short arm of chromosome 3 (in band 3p14.2).

Molecular evidence that the esterase-D gene lies proximal to the retinoblastoma susceptibility locus in chromosome region 13q14

Somatic cell hybrids have been created between transformed mouse 3T3 cells and fibroblasts from a retinoblastoma patient with normal red-cell esterase-D (ESD) levels and a constitutional deletion of chromosome region 13q14-q31. In one subclone, which has retained the deletion chromosome but not the homologous normal copy, we have demonstrated the presence of the human ESD gene sequence. The breakpoint in this patient therefore must have occurred between the ESD gene and the retinoblastoma (Rb) predisposition locus. We have also been able to demonstrate that the ESD gene lies proximally to be the Rb gene in region 13q14. The recently isolated 4.7R cDNA gene sequence was absent from the deletion-containing hybrid, a finding consistent with the hypothesis that this sequence represents the Rb gene itself.

Studies on the human retinoblastoma susceptibility gene

The retinoblastoma susceptibility (RB) gene is unique among other cloned cancer genes because its causal role in a human cancer, retinoblastoma, was established by classical genetic methods before its isolation. Earlier hypotheses and experimental data suggested that inactivation of a gene in chromosome band 13q14 resulted in retinoblastoma formation. A gene in this region was identified as the RB gene on the basis of mutations found specifically in retinoblastoma tumors; however, its proposed biological activity in suppressing neoplasia has yet to be demonstrated. The RB gene product was identified as a nuclear phosphoprotein of 110 kD associated with DNA binding activity, suggesting that the RB protein may regulate other genes. Probes for the RB gene and gene product will be useful for genetic diagnosis of retinoblastoma susceptibility in affected families; for direct detection of mutant RB alleles; and, potentially, for genetic diagnosis of susceptibility to osteosarcoma and other tumors tentatively linked to RB-gene dysfunction. Continued study of the RB gene should yield further insight into mechanisms of oncogenesis, development, and gene regulation.

The gene responsible for the development of retinoblastoma and osteosarcoma

The gene responsible for the formation of both retinoblastoma and osteosarcoma recently has been isolated. This represents the first human recessive cancer gene ever cloned. Structural deletions within one or both retinoblastoma gene alleles were commonly noted in the retinoblastomas and an osteosarcoma. Whether or not changes were observed at the DNA level there was either no expression or an abnormal expression of the gene in the tumor. The fact that we could detect changes in the fibroblasts of some patients with the hereditary form of retinoblastoma also indicates that the gene can be used for diagnostic purposes.

Structural rearrangement of the retinoblastoma gene in human breast carcinoma

Structural changes of the human retinoblastoma gene have been demonstrated previously in retinoblastoma and some clinically related tumors including osteosarcoma. Structural aberrations of the retinoblastoma locus (RB1) were observed in 25% of breast tumor cell lines studied and 7% of the primary tumors. These changes include homozygous internal deletions and total deletion of RB1; a duplication of an exon was observed in one of the cell lines. In all cases, structural changes either resulted in the absence or truncation of the RB1 transcript. No obvious defect in RB1 was detected by DNA blot analysis in primary tumors or cell lines from Wilms' tumor, cervical carcinoma, or hepatoma. These results further support the concept that the human RB1 gene has pleiotropic effects on specific types of cancer.

Identification of germline and somatic mutations affecting the retinoblastoma gene

Retinoblastoma (RB) is a malignant tumor of developing retina that arises when abnormalities resulting in loss of function affect both alleles of the gene at the retinoblastoma locus (RB1) on chromosome 13q. The majority of RB tumors do not show gross alterations in a 4.7-kb fragment (4.7R), which is a candidate RB1 gene. To search for more subtle mutations, the ribonuclease protection method was used to analyze 4.7R messenger RNA from RB tumors. Five of 11 RB tumors, which exhibit normal 4.7R DNA and normal-sized RNA transcripts, showed abnormal ribonuclease cleavage patterns. Three of the five mutations affected the same region of the messenger RNA, consistent with an effect on splicing involving an as yet unidentified 5' exon. The high frequency of mutations in 4.7R supports the identification of 4.7R as the RB1 gene. However, the unusual nature of some of the abnormalities of 4.7 R alleles indicates that the accepted sequence of genetic events involved in the genesis of RB may require reevaluation.

Recessive genetic deregulation abrogates c-myc suppression by interferon and is implicated in oncogenesis

In a previous study we demonstrated that many hematopoietic tumor cells are resistant to the inhibitory effects that interferon exerts on c-myc mRNA expression without losing other receptor-mediated intracellular responses (M. Einat, D. Resnitzky, and A. Kimchi, Nature [London] 313:597-600). We report here that this partial resistance was overridden in two independent stable somatic cell hybrids prepared by fusion between sensitive and resistant cells. The c-myc mRNA transcribed from the active allele of the resistant parent cell was reduced by interferon within the context of the cell hybrid. It was therefore concluded that changes in the cis-acting sequences of c-myc were not involved in this type of relaxed regulation and that resistance resulted rather from inactivation or loss of postreceptor elements which operate in trans. The growth-stimulating effect that this genetic deregulation might have on cells was tested in experimental systems of cell differentiation in which an autocrine interferon is produced. For that purpose we isolated variant clones of M1 myeloid cells which were partially resistant to alpha and beta interferons and tested their growth behavior during in vitro-induced differentiation. The resistant clones displayed higher proliferative activity on days 2 and 3 of differentiation than did the sensitive clones, which stopped proliferating. The loss of c-myc responses to the self-produced interferon disrupted the normal cessation of growth during differentiation and therefore might lead cells along the pathway of neoplasia.

Genetic alterations during colorectal-tumor development

Because most colorectal carcinomas appear to arise from adenomas, studies of different stages of colorectal neoplasia may shed light on the genetic alterations involved in tumor progression. We looked for four genetic alterations (ras-gene mutations and allelic deletions of chromosomes 5, 17, and 18) in 172 colorectal-tumor specimens representing various stages of neoplastic development. The specimens consisted of 40 predominantly early-stage adenomas from 7 patients with familial adenomatous polyposis, 40 adenomas (19 without associated foci of carcinoma and 21 with such foci) from 33 patients without familial polyposis, and 92 carcinomas resected from 89 patients. We found that ras-gene mutations occurred in 58 percent of adenomas larger than 1 cm and in 47 percent of carcinomas. However, ras mutations were found in only 9 percent of adenomas under 1 cm in size. Sequences on chromosome 5 that are linked to the gene for familial adenomatous polyposis were not lost in adenomas from the patients with polyposis but were lost in 29 to 35 percent of adenomas and carcinomas, respectively, from other patients. A specific region of chromosome 18 was deleted frequently in carcinomas (73 percent) and in advanced adenomas (47 percent) but only occasionally in earlier-stage adenomas (11 to 13 percent). Chromosome 17p sequences were usually lost only in carcinomas (75 percent). The four molecular alterations accumulated in a fashion that paralleled the clinical progression of tumors. These results are consistent with a model of colorectal tumorigenesis in which the steps required for the development of cancer often involve the mutational activation of an oncogene coupled with the loss of several genes that normally suppress tumorigenesis.

Concerted nonsyntenic allelic loss in human colorectal carcinoma

Familial polyposis coli (FPC) is caused by an autosomal dominant gene on chromosome 5, and it has been proposed that colorectal cancer in the general population arises from loss or inactivation of the FPC gene, analogous to recessive tumor genes in retinoblastoma and Wilms' tumor. Since allelic loss can be erroneously scored in nonhomogeneous samples, tumor cell populations were first microdissected from 24 colorectal carcinomas, an additional nine cancers were engrafted in nude mice, and nuclei were flow-sorted from an additional two. Of 31 cancers informative for chromosome 5 markers, only 6 (19%) showed loss of heterozygosity of chromosome 5 alleles, compared to 19 of 34 (56%) on chromosome 17, and 17 of 33 (52%) on chromosome 18. Therefore, it appears that (i) FPC is a true dominant for adenomatosis but not a common recessive gene for colon cancer; and (ii) simple Mendelian models involving loss of alleles at a single locus may be inappropriate for understanding common human solid tumors.

Recessive mechanisms of malignancy

It is increasingly recognised that recessive mutations play an important role in the pathogenesis of many forms of malignancy. Some of the affected loci may prove to be recessively-activated proto-oncogenes, but others are now known to be tumorigenic solely by virtue of their loss or inactivation and therefore form a distinct and novel family of tumour genes. Preliminary evidence suggests that such genes are likely to be functionally heterogeneous and to encode molecules involved in the inhibition of cellular proliferation and/or the induction of differentiation. Their further study is likely to illuminate fundamental mechanisms of normal cellular growth and differentiation as well as having important implications for the pathogenesis and management of cancer.

Molecular mechanism of retinoblastoma gene inactivation in retinoblastoma cell line Y79

Formation of retinoblastoma, a cancer arising in the retinas of young children, is determined by mutational inactivation of an autosomal gene (RB), which has been molecularly cloned. Whereas all normal tissues and many tumor cells express an RB mRNA of 4.7 kilobases, six of six retinoblastomas were previously found either to lack RB gene expression or to have RB transcripts of abnormal (reduced) length. To further characterize the latter type of mutation, we chose to examine retinoblastoma cell line Y79, which expressed a shortened RB mRNA of about 4.0 kilobases. RB cDNA clones isolated from a library constructed with Y79 mRNA demonstrated an internal loss of 470 nucleotides near the 5' end, which corresponded to a deletion of exons 2-6. Genomic clones containing the deletion junction were isolated from a library made with Y79 DNA, which allowed precise localization and sequencing of deletion endpoints in introns 1 and 6. These regions had no apparent homology to each other or to the Alu family of repetitive sequences, implying that the deletion must have occurred by a mechanism other than recombination of homologous sequences. Deletion of exons 2-6 would interrupt the open reading frame in RB mRNA and would result in premature termination of translation. Since no normal RB protein was detected by immunoprecipitation with specific antibody, the other, apparently normal RB allele in Y79 cells was necessarily inactivated by a different mutation.

Infrequent genomic rearrangement and normal expression of the putative RB1 gene in retinoblastoma tumors

Retinoblastoma (RB) tumors develop when both alleles of a gene (RB1) are mutated and unable to function normally. Recently, Friend et al. [S. H. Friend, R. Bernards, S. Rogelj, R. A. Weinberg, J. M. Rapaport, D. M. Albert, and T. P. Dryja, Nature (London) 32:643-646, 1986] reported the cloning of a gene, 4.7R, with some properties expected for the RB1 gene, namely, a high frequency (30%) of genomic rearrangements in tumors and absence of message in all RB tumors examined. To extend the characterization of this gene, we used 4.7R probes to search for genomic rearrangements of DNA and to study the expression of the 4.7R gene in RB tumors, osteosarcoma (OS) tumors arising in RB patients, and other normal and malignant tissues. In 34 previously unreported RB and OS tumors arising in RB patients, we observed only four (12%) with genomic abnormalities. Transcripts of 4.7R were present in 12 of 17 RB tumors, 2 of 2 OS tumors, and all non-RB tumors and normal tissues tested. We were unable to confirm the high frequency of truncated messages of 4.7R in RB tumors reported by Lee et al. (W. H. Lee, R. Bookstein, F. Hong, L. J. Young, J. Y. Shaw, and E. Y. Lee, Science 235:1394-1399, 1987) and Fung et al. (Y. K. Fung, A. L. Murphree, A. Tang, J. Qian, S. H. Hinrichs, and W. F. Benedict, Science 236:1657-1661, 1987) but did confirm the presence of a truncated transcript in the RB cell line Y79. Of the RB and RB-related OS tumors which appeared normal on Southern blots, 2 of 26 or 12% had abnormal transcripts, giving a combined frequency of 22% abnormalities in the 4.7R gene detectable by Southern and Northern (RNA) blot analyses.

Abnormalities in structure and expression of the human retinoblastoma gene in SCLC

Small cell lung cancer (SCLC) has been associated with loss of heterozygosity at several distinct genetic loci including chromosomes 3p, 13q, and 17p. To determine whether the retinoblastoma gene (Rb) localized at 13q14, might be the target of recessive mutations in lung cancer, eight primary SCLC tumors and 50 cell lines representing all major histologic types of lung cancer were examined with the Rb complementary DNA probe. Structural abnormalities within the Rb gene were observed in 1/8 (13%) primary SCLC tumors, 4/22 (18%) SCLC lines, and 1/4 (25%) pulmonary carcinoid lines (comparable to the 20 to 40% observed in retinoblastoma), but were not detected in other major types of lung cancer. Rb messenger RNA expression was absent in 60% of the SCLC lines and 75% of pulmonary carcinoid lines, including all samples with DNA abnormalities. In contrast, Rb transcripts were found in 90% of non-SCLC lung cancer lines and in normal human lung. The finding of abnormalities of the Rb gene in SCLC and pulmonary carcinoids (both neuroendocrine tumors) suggests that this gene may be involved in the pathogenesis of a common adult malignancy.

Association between an oncogene and an anti-oncogene: the adenovirus E1A proteins bind to the retinoblastoma gene product

One of the cellular targets implicated in the process of transformation by the adenovirus E1A proteins is a 105K cellular protein. Previously, this protein had been shown to form stable protein/protein complexes with the E1A polypeptides but its identity was unknown. Here, we demonstrate that it is the product of the retinoblastoma gene. The interaction between E1A and the retinoblastoma gene product is the first demonstration of a physical link between an oncogene and an anti-oncogene.

Inactivation of the retinoblastoma susceptibility gene in human breast cancers

Mutational inactivation of the retinoblastoma susceptibility (RB) gene, a recessive cancer gene, has been implicated in the genesis of retinoblastoma and certain other human neoplasms. This gene is now shown to be inactivated in two of nine human breast cancer cell lines examined. The RB gene of one cell line had a homozygous internal duplication of a 5-kilobase region containing exons 5 and 6. The RB messenger RNA transcript was correspondingly lengthened, and its translation was probably terminated prematurely due to a shifted reading frame. The other cell line had a homozygous deletion of the RB gene that removed the entire gene beyond exon 2. The RB gene product, pp110RB, was not detectable in either cell line by immuno-precipitation with specific antibodies. These findings are significant in relation to proposed genetic mechanisms of breast cancer formation.

Homozygous deletion of a DNA marker from chromosome 11p13 in sporadic Wilms tumor

A random DNA fragment, probe p2.3 (locus D11S87), was cloned from the 11p13 region between a translocation breakpoint associated with familial aniridia and another translocation breakpoint associated with childhood T-cell leukemia. The D11S87 locus maps between the catalase (CAT) locus and the beta subunit of follicle stimulating hormone (FSHB). The D11S87 locus is deleted in a Wilms tumor patient with a constitutional deletion of 11p and in a case of sporadic Wilms tumor (WiT-13) apparently with normal karyotype. In the WiT-13 tumor both maternal and paternal chromosomes 11 are retained; D11S87 is deleted homozygously and FSHB hemizygously. These results suggest two mutational events resulting in homozygous deletion in this patient. The D11S87 homozygous deletion was also demonstrated in WiT-13 nude mouse heterotransplants and in fibroblast-like cell line derived from the primary tumor. The minimum size of the deletion was estimated to be 30 kb as determined by cosmid screening and hybridization. As homozygous deletions in the 11p13 region have not been previously reported for sporadic Wilms tumors, these findings place the D11S87 locus within or approximate to the Wilms tumor gene.

Microdeletion syndromes, balanced translocations, and gene mapping

High resolution prometaphase chromosome banding has allowed the detection of discrete chromosome aberrations which escaped earlier metaphase examinations. Consistent tiny deletions have been detected in some well established malformation syndromes: an interstitial deletion in 15q11/12 in the majority of patients with the Prader-Willi syndrome and in a minority of patients with the Angelman (happy puppet) syndrome; a terminal deletion of 17p13.3 in most patients examined with the Miller-Dieker syndrome; an interstitial deletion of 8q23.3/24.1 in a large majority of patients with the Giedion-Langer syndrome; an interstitial deletion of 11p13 in virtually all patients with the WAGR (Wilms' tumour-aniridia-gonadoblastoma-retardation) syndrome; and an interstitial deletion in 22q11 in about one third of patients with the DiGeorge sequence. In addition, a combination of chromosome prometaphase banding and DNA marker studies has allowed the localisation of the genes for retinoblastoma and for Wilms' tumour and the clarification of both the autosomal recessive nature of the mutation and the possible somatic mutations by which the normal allele can be lost in retina and kidney cells. After a number of X linked genes had been mapped, discrete deletions in the X chromosome were detected by prometaphase banding with specific attention paid to the sites of the gene(s) in males who had from one to up to four different X linked disorders plus mental retardation. Furthermore, the detection of balanced translocations in probands with disorders caused by autosomal dominant or X linked genes has allowed a better insight into the localisation of these genes. In some females with X linked disorders, balanced X; autosomal translocations have allowed the localisation of X linked genes at the breakpoint on the X chromosome. Balanced autosome; autosome translocations segregating with autosomal dominant conditions have provided some clues to the gene location of these conditions. In two conditions, Greig cephalopolysyndactyly and dominant aniridia, two translocation families with one common breakpoint have allowed quite a confident location of the genes at the common breakpoint at 7p13 and 11p13, respectively.

Recessive genetic deregulation abrogates c-myc suppression by interferon and is implicated in oncogenesis

In a previous study we demonstrated that many hematopoietic tumor cells are resistant to the inhibitory effects that interferon exerts on c-myc mRNA expression without losing other receptor-mediated intracellular responses (M. Einat, D. Resnitzky, and A. Kimchi, Nature [London] 313:597-600). We report here that this partial resistance was overridden in two independent stable somatic cell hybrids prepared by fusion between sensitive and resistant cells. The c-myc mRNA transcribed from the active allele of the resistant parent cell was reduced by interferon within the context of the cell hybrid. It was therefore concluded that changes in the cis-acting sequences of c-myc were not involved in this type of relaxed regulation and that resistance resulted rather from inactivation or loss of postreceptor elements which operate in trans. The growth-stimulating effect that this genetic deregulation might have on cells was tested in experimental systems of cell differentiation in which an autocrine interferon is produced. For that purpose we isolated variant clones of M1 myeloid cells which were partially resistant to alpha and beta interferons and tested their growth behavior during in vitro-induced differentiation. The resistant clones displayed higher proliferative activity on days 2 and 3 of differentiation than did the sensitive clones, which stopped proliferating. The loss of c-myc responses to the self-produced interferon disrupted the normal cessation of growth during differentiation and therefore might lead cells along the pathway of neoplasia.

Mutation as a cause of genetic disease

Mutational changes can be conveniently classified into two sorts: those that appear to involve single genes and are generally referred to as gene mutations, and those that involve chromosomal segments containing many genes, or even whole chromosomes, and are referred to as chromosomal mutations. Both of these kinds of mutation occur in germ-cell lineages and contribute substantially to inherited disease, or pre-disposition to disease, and both also occur in somatic cells and contribute to acquired disease. The mutation rates for inherited disease ascribed to mutation in a single gene differ for different genes and are age-dependent. Moreover, a single disease entity, such as haemophilia B, may be the result of any one of a number of different alterations within the gene responsible for the disease. The mutation rate for inherited chromosomal mutation is also age-dependent, particularly so in the case of mutations involving alterations in chromosome number. Studies in experimental animals demonstrate that exposure to physical or chemical mutagens results in increasing the incidence of inherited gene and chromosomal mutations. However, such increases have not been unequivocally demonstrated in human populations exposed to known mutagens. Studies on mutation in human lymphoid or epithelial somatic cells clearly demonstrate an increased frequency in cells taken from people exposed to ionizing radiations or chemical mutagens or in cells exposed in vitro. The consequences of such mutations will depend upon their nature and the origins and functions of the cells in which they occur. Of particular importance are mutations influencing cell growth and proliferation, and both gene and chromosomal mutations are implicated as causal factors in the development of human cancers.

Human esterase D gene: complete cDNA sequence, genomic structure, and application in the genetic diagnosis of human retinoblastoma

The gene encoding human esterase D (EsD), a member of the nonspecific esterase family, is a useful genetic marker for retinoblastoma (RB) and Wilson's disease. Previously we identified a cDNA clone from this gene and determined its chromosomal location. In this report, we present the complete cDNA sequence of the human EsD gene. A long open reading frame encoded a predicted protein of 282 amino acids with molecular weight of 30 kD. A computer-assisted search of a protein sequence data base revealed homology with two other esterases, acetylcholinesterase of Torpedo and esterase-6 of Drosophila. Homologous region were centered around presumptive active sites, suggesting that the catalytic domains of the esterases are conserved during evolution. Three genomic clones of this gene were also isolated and characterized by restriction mapping. At least ten exons were distributed over a 35-kb (kilobase pair) region; each exon contained an average of 100 basepairs (bp). A polymorphic site for Apa I, located within an intron of the esterase D gene, can be used to identify chromosome 13 carrying defective RB alleles within retinoblastoma families.

Types, rates, origin and expressivity of chromosome mutations involving 13q14 in retinoblastoma patients

A cytogenetic survey of 200 retinoblastoma (Rb) patients revealed that approximately 8.5% of the fresh germinal mutations were microscopically detectable chromosome mutations, either interstitial deletions or rearrangements, involving 13q14. They showed a strong bias toward paternal origin, indicating a significant contribution of errors in paternal meiotic processes. The incidence of patients with Rb due to such chromosome mutations was estimated to be 1.9 x 10(-6) of live births. Age-specific incidence of Rb tumors suggested that the Rb mutations by such chromosomal mechanisms had a lower carcinogenic potential, as indicated by the later onset of disease, than other Rb mutations of germinal origin.

Infrequent genomic rearrangement and normal expression of the putative RB1 gene in retinoblastoma tumors

Retinoblastoma (RB) tumors develop when both alleles of a gene (RB1) are mutated and unable to function normally. Recently, Friend et al. [S. H. Friend, R. Bernards, S. Rogelj, R. A. Weinberg, J. M. Rapaport, D. M. Albert, and T. P. Dryja, Nature (London) 32:643-646, 1986] reported the cloning of a gene, 4.7R, with some properties expected for the RB1 gene, namely, a high frequency (30%) of genomic rearrangements in tumors and absence of message in all RB tumors examined. To extend the characterization of this gene, we used 4.7R probes to search for genomic rearrangements of DNA and to study the expression of the 4.7R gene in RB tumors, osteosarcoma (OS) tumors arising in RB patients, and other normal and malignant tissues. In 34 previously unreported RB and OS tumors arising in RB patients, we observed only four (12%) with genomic abnormalities. Transcripts of 4.7R were present in 12 of 17 RB tumors, 2 of 2 OS tumors, and all non-RB tumors and normal tissues tested. We were unable to confirm the high frequency of truncated messages of 4.7R in RB tumors reported by Lee et al. (W. H. Lee, R. Bookstein, F. Hong, L. J. Young, J. Y. Shaw, and E. Y. Lee, Science 235:1394-1399, 1987) and Fung et al. (Y. K. Fung, A. L. Murphree, A. Tang, J. Qian, S. H. Hinrichs, and W. F. Benedict, Science 236:1657-1661, 1987) but did confirm the presence of a truncated transcript in the RB cell line Y79. Of the RB and RB-related OS tumors which appeared normal on Southern blots, 2 of 26 or 12% had abnormal transcripts, giving a combined frequency of 22% abnormalities in the 4.7R gene detectable by Southern and Northern (RNA) blot analyses.

Absence of TGF-beta receptors and growth inhibitory responses in retinoblastoma cells

The responses of retinoblastoma tumor cells and normal retinal cells to various growth inhibitory factors were examined. Whereas fetal retinal cells were highly sensitive to the antimitogenic effects of transforming growth factor beta 1 (TGF-beta 1), retinoblastoma tumor cell lines were all resistant to this factor. Binding assays and affinity labeling of these cells with radioiodinated TGF-beta 1 revealed that the cells did not have TGF-beta receptors. The retinoblastoma cells lacked the three affinity-labeled proteins of 65, 95, and 300 kilodaltons typically seen in human cell lines and thus differed from normal retinal cells and from other types of neuroectodermal tumors that display the normal pattern of receptors. Loss of TGF-beta receptors, which is a rare event among tumor cells, may represent one mechanism through which these cells escape from negative control and form retinoblastomas.

A case of synovial sarcoma with abnormal expression of the human retinoblastoma susceptibility gene

Abnormal or absent expression of the human retinoblastoma susceptibility (RB) gene has been implicated in the genesis of retinoblastoma. In addition to a 90% chance of developing retinoblastoma, patients inheriting a mutant RB gene have a high incidence of second nonocular malignancies, suggesting a role for this gene in other tumors as well. This report describes a patient without a previous history of retinoblastoma who developed metastatic synovial sarcoma. Analysis of RNA from this tumor revealed the presence of an abnormally long RB gene transcript in addition to an RB transcript of normal length. On the basis of findings in retinoblastoma, we propose that alteration of RB gene expression was significantly related to the formation of this patient's synovial sarcoma.

Cone cell-specific genes expressed in retinoblastoma

Retinoblastoma, an intraocular tumor that occurs in children, has long been regarded, on the basis of morphological criteria, as a malignancy of the photoreceptor cell lineage. Here it is shown that when this tumor is grown in vitro, the cells express highly specialized photoreceptor cell genes. Transcripts for the transducin alpha subunit, TC alpha, which is specific to the cone cell, as well as transcripts for the red or green cone cell photopigment, were found in seven out of seven low-passage retinoblastoma cell lines. No marker genes specific to rod cell were expressed, suggesting that retinoblastoma has a cone cell lineage.

An abnormal expression of a tumor-activated multigenic set in cells from cancer prone patients with inherited Fanconi's anemia (FA) and retinoblastoma (Rb)

Normal skin fibroblasts from patients genetically predisposed for cancer express certain phenotypic properties usually associated with transformed cells, suggesting that these cells are engaged in a cancer progression process. Previously, we have shown that a subgenomic fraction, which we called Ta DNA ('tumor-activated DNA') was preferentially expressed in all human tumor cells (Hanania et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A., 78 (1981) 6504-6508; Hanania et al, EMBO J., 2 (1983) 1621-1624). Here, we show that Ta DNA transcripts are present in Fanconi's anemia (FA) and retinoblastoma (Rb) fibroblasts, at a level hardly lower than in tumor cells. In contrast, a few Ta DNA transcripts can be detected in normal cells.