Oncogenesis of the lens in transgenic mice.

Abstract

Neoplastic tumors of the ocular lens of vertebrates do not naturally occur. Transgenic mice carrying a hybrid gene comprising the murine alpha A-crystallin promoter (-366 to +46) fused to the coding sequence of the SV40 T antigens developed lens tumors, which obliterated the eye cavity and even invaded neighboring tissue, thus establishing that the lens is not refractive to oncogenesis. Large-T antigen was detected early in lens development; it elicited morphological changes and specifically interfered with differentiation of lens fiber cells. Both alpha- and beta-crystallins persisted in many of the lens tumor cells, while gamma-crystallin was selectively reduced. Accessibility, characteristic morphology, and defined protein markers make this transparent epithelial eye tissue a potentially useful system for testing tumorigenicity of oncogenes and for studying malignant transformation from its inception until death of the animal.

• Authors: K A Mahon, A B Chepelinsky, J S Khillan, P A Overbeek, J Piatigorsky, H Westphal
• Journal: Science (New York, N.Y.) (Science) Vol. 235 Issue 4796 Pg. 1622-8 (Mar 27 1987) ISSN: 0036-8075 [Print] United States
• PMID: 3029873 (Publication Type: Journal Article)

Chemical References

• Antigens, Polyomavirus Transforming
• Antigens, Viral, Tumor
• Crystallins
• Oncogene Proteins, Viral

Topics

• Animals
• Antigens, Polyomavirus Transforming
• Antigens, Viral, Tumor (analysis)
• Cell Transformation, Neoplastic
• Cell Transformation, Viral
• Chimera
• Crystallins (analysis)
• Eye Neoplasms (pathology)
• Female
• Lens Diseases (pathology)
• Lens, Crystalline (growth & development)
• Mice (genetics)
• Oncogene Proteins, Viral (analysis)
• Phenotype
• Pregnancy
• Simian virus 40
• Transcription, Genetic