Post-Transcriptional Control of Class I MHC mRNA Expression in Adenovirus 12-Transformed Cells

• Published in: Science (American Association for the Advancement of Science) Vol. 235; no. 4795; pp. 1486 - 1488
• Main Authors: Ruud T. M. J. Vaessen, Houweling, Ada, Van Der Eb, Alex J.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Washington, DC The American Association for the Advancement of Science 20.03.1987; American Association for the Advancement of Science
• Subjects: Actinomycin; Adenovirus; Adenoviruses, Human; Biochemistry; Biological and medical sciences; Cell culture techniques; Cell nucleus; Cell Nucleus - metabolism; Cell physiology; Cell transformation and carcinogenesis. Action of oncogenes and antioncogenes; Cell Transformation, Viral; Cells; Complementary DNA; Embryonic cells; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Gene Expression Regulation; Genes; Genetics; HLA Antigens - genetics; Humans; Infections; Messenger RNA; MHC class I genes; Molecular and cellular biology; RNA; RNA Processing, Post-Transcriptional; RNA, Messenger - genetics; Transcription, Genetic; Viruses; Human; Cell culture; Adenoviridae; Major histocompatibility system; Rodentia; Gene expression; Cell transformation; Kidney; Virus; Vertebrata; Regulation(control); Mammalia; Alloantigen; Messenger RNA; Gene; Post transcriptional modification; Mouse; Mastadenovirus; Adénovirus 12; Inhibition
• ISSN: 0036-8075; 1095-9203
• DOI: 10.1126/science.3823900

Expression of the class I transplantation antigens of the major histocompatibility complex (MHC) is suppressed in cells transformed by the oncogenic human adenovirus 12 (Ad12). This suppression of class I antigen expression, which contributes to the tumorigenic phenotype of the transformed cells, has also been observed in some naturally occurring cancers. In the present study, the rate of transcription initiation of class I genes was measured by a nuclear run-on assay in Ad5- and Ad12-transformed cells of three different types. The rate of transcription was the same in all three. The stability of the class I messenger RNA was also examined and found to be the same in all three cell types. The results indicate that in Ad12-transformed cells the suppression is caused by an inhibition of the post-transcriptional processing of class I MHC messenger RNA in the nucleus.