Regulation of Par-4 by oncogenic Ras

Methods Enzymol. 2006:407:422-42. doi: 10.1016/S0076-6879(05)07035-7.

Abstract

Oncogenic Ras causes down-regulation of the proapoptotic tumor suppressor gene Par-4. Replenishment of the basal levels of Par-4 results in inhibition of Ras-inducible cellular transformation. Moreover, overexpression of Par-4 (twofold to fourfold over basal levels) results in apoptosis of cells expressing oncogenic Ras. Par-4 does not, on its own, induce apoptosis in immortalized or nontransformed cells. This chapter describes the key methods used for analysis of Par-4 down-regulation by oncogenic Ras, which can be extended to study most genes whose down-regulation by oncogenic Ras is critical for oncogenic transformation and cell survival.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Apoptosis Regulatory Proteins / metabolism*
  • Cell Transformation, Neoplastic
  • Down-Regulation
  • Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel
  • Gene Expression Regulation
  • Mice
  • NIH 3T3 Cells
  • Transfection
  • ras Proteins / physiology*

Substances

  • Apoptosis Regulatory Proteins
  • prostate apoptosis response-4 protein
  • ras Proteins