Endogenous and transfected mouse alpha-fetoprotein genes in undifferentiated F9 cells are activated in transient heterokaryons

Brett T. Spear, Amy W. Ellis

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

7 Scopus citations

Abstract

Mouse F9 teratocarcinoma cells provide a system to study developmentally regulated alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) gene expression. AFP is not expressed in undifferentiated F9 cells but is induced when cells differentiate as cell aggregates in the presence of retinoic acid. Previous studies have led to the suggestion that undifferentiated F9 cells contain negative regulators of AFP expression. To test this, we have used transient heterokaryons to ask whether inactive AFP genes in undifferentiated F9 cells are responsive to positively acting trans-acting factors. Our results indicate that silent endogenous and transfected AFP genes are activated when undifferentiated F9 cells are fused to human hepatoma HepG2 cells. This suggests that the lack of AFP expression in undifferentiated F9 cells is due to the absence or insufficient level of positive-acting transcription factors, rather than the presence of dominant negative regulators. We also demonstrate that stably transfected AFP genes, although unmethylated, are properly regulated in F9 cells.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)19-31
Number of pages13
JournalSomatic Cell and Molecular Genetics
Volume21
Issue number1
DOIs
StatePublished - Jan 1995

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Genetics
  • Cell Biology

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Endogenous and transfected mouse alpha-fetoprotein genes in undifferentiated F9 cells are activated in transient heterokaryons'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this