A retinoic acid responsive gene, MK, produces a secreted protein with heparin binding activity

• Published in: Biochemical and biophysical research communications Vol. 171; no. 2; pp. 603 - 609
• Main Authors: Tomomura, Mineko, Kadomatsu, Kenji, Nakamoto, Masaru, Muramatsu, Hisako, Kondoh, Hisato, Imagawa, Ken-ichi, Muramatsu, Takashi
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: San Diego, CA Elsevier Inc 14.09.1990; Elsevier
• Subjects: Aminoacids, peptides. Hormones. Neuropeptides; Analytical, structural and metabolic biochemistry; Animals; Biological and medical sciences; Carrier Proteins - genetics; Carrier Proteins - isolation & purification; Carrier Proteins - metabolism; Cell Differentiation - drug effects; Cell Line; Chromatography, Affinity; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Gene Expression - drug effects; heparin; Heparin - metabolism; Kinetics; L Cells (Cell Line) - cytology; L Cells (Cell Line) - drug effects; L Cells (Cell Line) - metabolism; Promoter Regions, Genetic; Protein Biosynthesis; Proteins; Rabbits; Reticulocytes - metabolism; retinoic acid; Teratoma; Transfection; Tretinoin - pharmacology; Cell culture; Embryo; Carcinoma; Gene product; Cell differentiation; Immunological method; Binding capacity; Transfection; Affinity chromatography; Polypeptide; Secretory protein; Heparin; Retinoic acid
• ISSN: 0006-291X; 1090-2104
• DOI: 10.1016/0006-291X(90)91189-Y

MK is a gene whose expression increases transiently during retinoic acid-induced differentiation of embryonal carcinoma cells. MK polypeptide was secreted by differentiating HM-1 embryonal carcinoma cells and by L-cells transfected with an MK cDNA under the control of the β-actin promoter and Rous sarcoma virus enhancer. MK polypeptide was found to have heparin binding activity. Conditioned medium of the transfected L-cells promoted growth of PC-12 pheochromocytoma cells. These findings support the view that MK polypeptide is a secreted factor involved in regulation of growth and differentiation.