Distinct MDM2 and P14ARF expression and centrosome amplification in well-differentiated liposarcomas

Well-differentiated liposarcomas (WDLs) are common soft-tissue tumors in adults. They are characterized by large marker chromosomes and/or ring chromosomes containing 12q-derived sequences in which MDM2 is consistently amplified. WDLs are subdivided into two subtypes according to their karyotype. Type D cells exhibit a near-diploid karyotype, with very few or no chromosome changes. Type H cells exhibit a near-tetraploid karyotype and many structural changes. Expression of P14ARF, MDM2, and TP53 proteins was assayed in the two WDL subtypes to establish whether distinct expression profiles correlated with cell ploidy. Although a transcriptionally functional TP53 was present in most tumors independent of their karyotype, type H cells were characterized by high levels of P14ARF and MDM2 proteins. Although amplified within similar chromosome markers in type D tumors, MDM2 did not appear to be overexpressed. In addition, it was present as a C-terminal truncated protein, indicative of alternatively spliced variants of MDM2 mRNA. As the existence of karyotypically distinct tumors could result from alterations of the mitotic machinery, we investigated the centrosome behavior in the two WDL subtypes. Centrosome amplification occurred in WDL tumors types H and D independent of their ploidy status. Moreover, no functional centrosome difference was found between the two tumor subtypes.

Molecular and functional effects of the T14709C point mutation in the mitochondrial DNA of a patient with maternally inherited diabetes and deafness

A heteroplasmic T to C transition at nucleotide position 14709 in the mitochondrial tRNA glutamic acid (tRNA(Glu)) gene has previously been associated with maternally inherited diabetes and deafness (MIDD). To investigate the pathogenic mechanism of the T14709C mutation, we have constructed transmitochondrial cell lines by transferring fibroblasts mitochondria from a patient with the mutation into human cells lacking mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) (rho degrees cells). Clonal cybrid cell lines were obtained containing various levels of the heteroplasmic mutation, or exclusively mutated or wild-type mtDNA. Measurement of respiratory chain enzymatic activities failed to detect a difference between the homoplasmic mutant and homoplasmic wild-type cybrid cell lines. However, a subtle decrease in the steady-state levels of tRNA(Glu) transcripts in some mutant clones. Our studies suggest that the T14709C mutation is insufficient to lead impairment of mitochondrial function in homoplasmic osteosarcoma cybrid clones, and that we cannot exclude that the T14709C mutation affects mitochondrial function by a yet unidentified mechanism.

Mitochondrial DNA variations in patients with maternally inherited diabetes and deafness syndrome

Mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) variants have been implicated in the pathogenesis of diabetes. A mutation in the tRNA leucine gene at position 3243 has been previously reported in mtDNA of maternally inherited diabetes and deafness (MIDD) patients. Because the true prevalence of the mitochondrial origin in diabetes may be underestimated, we searched for potentially diabetogenic anomalies of mtDNA in 9 patients highly suspected of mitochondrial diabetes selected on maternally inheritance and clinical features. In order to detect high levels of mutant DNA, the mtDNA of muscle sample of 2 patients was totally sequenced and the 22 tRNA genes and flanking sequences of 7 patients were analyzed. A new homoplasmic mutation at position 8381 was found in the ATPase 8 gene of mtDNA of a MIDD patient. The prevalence of three homoplasmic variations (G1888A, T4216G, A4917G) was significantly higher in the small group of MIDD patients compared to controls and other subjects groups. This study demonstrated in our patients sample the high frequency of homoplasmic variations, which could play a role by themselves or in combination, in the pathogenesis of diabetes.

Mapping FRA11A, a folate-sensitive fragile site in human chromosome band 11q13.3

FRA11A, a rare folate-sensitive fragile site assigned to 11q13.3, lies in an area of genomic instability associated with several diseases and amplification events. To map FRA11A, we used fluorescence in situ hybridization with yeast artificial chromosome and cosmid probes on metaphase chromosomes of patients expressing the fragile site. FRA11A was found situated centromeric to ACTN3 and telomeric to D11S913, these markers being within an interval of approximately 1 Mb in the 11q13.3 region.

Detailed map of a region commonly amplified at 11q13-->q14 in human breast carcinoma

Amplification of loci present on band q13 of human chromosome 11 is a feature of a subset of estrogen receptor positive breast carcinomas prone to metastasis. As many as five distinct amplification units have been described on 11q13. They include particularly a genomic area encompassing the GARP gene at 11q13.5-->q14.1. We have reassessed our current knowledge of this region, located telomeric to CCND1 and EMS1, which is amplified in 7-10% of mammary tumors. The loose definition of the driving forces of these amplification events led us to map accurately the boundaries of the amplifiable region, and thus to contribute a physical and transcriptional map of a 3-Mb region of chromosome 11. Four new genes were placed on the regional map, namely CBP2, CLNS1A, UVRAG, and PAK1. We have narrowed the core of the 11q13-->q14 amplicon to a 350-kb area encompassing D11S533, mostly on its telomeric side. The map reported here represents an indispensable step toward sequencing the entire region, and thus toward uncovering gene(s) which play(s) a critical role in breast cancer progression.

Framework YAC contig anchored into a 3.2-Mb high-resolution physical map in proximal 11q13

Despite the presence on band q13 of chromosome 11 of a number of genes predisposing individuals to various human diseases, most of this genomic region remains loosely mapped. Moreover, there is a relative dearth of yeast artificial chromosome (YAC) contigs from genome-wide studies: YACs are irregularly distributed over this chromosomal region and have not been arranged into contigs. We have thus undertaken fine-scale mapping of a 3.2-Mb region flanked by ACTN3 and FGF3. Since this region has demonstrated a high degree of YAC instability, we have established a framework contig by anchoring YACs and cosmids into a high-resolution physical map based on fluorescence in situ hybridization and long-range restriction mapping. The 3.2-Mb area studied includes the boundaries of regions thought to contain genes predisposing individuals to osteoporosis-pseudoglioma syndrome and insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus, as well as genes driving amplification events in human carcinomas. Another feature of this genomic area is that it cross-hybridizes to nonsyntenic regions of the genome. In addition, it spans the region where syntenic conservation with mouse chromosome 19 ends, making clones that we have anchored there valuable tools in understanding genome evolution.

Description of a 700-kb yeast artificial chromosome contig containing the BCL1 translocation breakpoint region at 11q13

We screened two human yeast artificial chromosome (YAC) libraries by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) with oligonucleotides specific to the BCL1 major translocation breakpoint cluster region at 11q13. Five YACs were isolated. Two of them were chimeric. One of these and remaining three YACs were characterized by hybridization with various known 11q13 probes, Alu-PCR fingerprinting, in situ hybridization, and isolation of YAC ends. A map of this ca 700-kb YAC contig was obtained. This map was consistent with maps established from total human genomic DNA. Every YAC in this region was found unstable and gave rise to reproducibly deleted lineages. Analysis in detail of these deletions over many generations showed that more than a single sequence might be involved. The availability of cloned material will facilitate the search for the still elusive genetic elements responsible for amplifications, deletions and translocations observed at 11q13 in malignancies.

Mapping genes according to their amplification status in tumor cells: contribution to the map of 11q13

DNA amplification events that occur at 11q13 in human carcinomas are complex, and amplicons were shown to exhibit numerous discontinuities that could be used as tools for mapping this genomic area. A statistical nearest-neighbor analysis of the amplification patterns of several 11q13 loci in a panel of amplified DNAs was performed in the region of 11q13 centromeric from BCL1. It was strongly correlated with the physical linkages that we established between the same markers. Taken together, our results led to a map of 14 genes and four anonymous probes located in this area.

D11S146 and BCL1 are physically linked but can be discriminated by their amplification status in human breast cancer

Band q13 of chromosome 11 is frequently altered in a number of human cancers. We have undertaken physical mapping in this region, starting with D11S146, an anonymous 11q13 DNA fragment. This probe has been used by others as a landmark to locate MEN1, a locus of predisposition to multiple endocrine neoplasia. Long-range restriction mapping locates D11S146 within approximately 400 kb of the BCL1 translocation breakpoint involved in certain B-cell malignancies. BCL1 and two proto-oncogenes, INT2 and HST, were previously found to be coamplified in approximately 1/5 breast carcinomas. Although close to BCL1, D11S146 is present in less than 3/4 of these amplification units and delimits their centromeric boundary. Therefore, we propose that D11S146 defines two genetic regions. The centromeric region--PYGM/D11S146--contains MEN1. The telomeric one includes the D11S146/BCL1/INT2/HST area and is relevant to DNA amplification in carcinomas and to B-cell translocations.

Functional expression of a human Na+/H+ antiporter gene transfected into antiporter-deficient mouse L cells

To clone the gene for the human Na+/H+ antiporter, we first constructed a stable mouse LTK- cell line (LAP1) lacking Na+/H+ antiport activity. Second, we devised a selective technique based on acid killing that specifically sorts out cells expressing low levels of Na+/H+ antiport activity from a population of antiporter-deficient cells (AP-). LAP1 cells (TK- and AP-) were cotransformed with human genomic DNA and the thymidine kinase (TK) gene. TK+ transformants, first selected, were submitted to acid loading. The rare transformants that survived (frequency, 2-8 X 10(-7) expressed Na+/H+ antiport activity (AP+). We found that: transformation with mouse LAP1 DNA did not give rise to AP+ transformants; transformation of LAP1 cells with DNA from an altered Na+/H+ antiporter hamster variant led to AP+ transformants expressing the altered Na+/H+ antiporter of the DNA donor; human repeated sequences were present in all primary, secondary, and tertiary mouse AP+ transformants; six identical EcoRI human DNA fragments (55 kilobase pairs of the human genome) cosegregated with the Na+/H+ antiport activity in secondary and tertiary transformants. These results strongly suggest that we have stably expressed the structural gene for the human Na+/H+ antiporter in mouse cells.

Structure of mouse interferon-beta cDNA clones: sequence rearrangements in a cloned cDNA

A fraction enriched in interferon (IFN) mRNA was prepared from mouse C243-3 induced cells and was used for the construction of a cDNA library. Two plasmids were obtained after screening by differential colony hybridization and IFN mRNA hybridization-selection and translation. The nucleotide sequences of the cDNA inserts revealed that both were partial copies of IFN-beta mRNA. The cDNA 861 corresponds to the entire 3' nontranslated region of the mRNA while the cDNA 2939 consists of rearranged translated regions of IFN mRNA. A mechanism for the rearrangement events during cDNA synthesis is proposed. A chromosomal DNA fragment hybridizing to cDNA 2939 was identified by screening a mouse genomic library.