Lack of correlation between N-myc and MAX expression in neuroblastoma tumors and in cell lines: implication for N-myc-MAX complex formation

G Raschella; A Romeo; A Negroni; S Pucci; C Dominici; M A Castello; P Bevilacqua; A Felsani; B Calabretta

Lack of correlation between N-myc and MAX expression in neuroblastoma tumors and in cell lines: implication for N-myc-MAX complex formation

Cancer Res. 1994 Apr 15;54(8):2251-5.

Authors

G Raschella¹, A Romeo, A Negroni, S Pucci, C Dominici, M A Castello, P Bevilacqua, A Felsani, B Calabretta

Affiliation

¹ ENEA (Ente Nuove Tecnologie Energia e Ambiente) CRE Casaccia, Division of Molecular Biology, Rome, Italy.

PMID: 8174135

Abstract

Detectable levels of MAX messenger RNA were found in a set of human neuroblastoma tumors and established cell lines. MAX mRNA levels were independent of tumor stage and N-myc genomic amplification. By contrast, N-myc mRNA transcripts were detectable only in tumors with amplification of N-myc gene and in cell lines. Analysis by reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction and hybridization to specific oligodeoxynucleotide probes revealed approximately equal amounts of two MAX transcripts in all cases analyzed. Immunoprecipitations with a specific antibody to MAX detected two proteins of M(r) 21,000 and 22,000 in approximately equal amounts in all neuroblastoma lines regardless of N-myc amplification and/or expression. On the other hand, protein binding to the myc DNA consensus sequence correlated with N-myc expression in neuroblastoma cells. Thus, N-myc expression might be a limiting factor in the formation of the N-myc-MAX heterodimer in neuroblastomas.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Amino Acid Sequence
Base Sequence
Basic Helix-Loop-Helix Leucine Zipper Transcription Factors
Basic-Leucine Zipper Transcription Factors
Blotting, Southern
Cell Line
Consensus Sequence
DNA / chemistry
DNA / metabolism
DNA, Neoplasm / analysis
DNA, Neoplasm / metabolism
DNA-Binding Proteins / biosynthesis
DNA-Binding Proteins / metabolism*
Gene Expression*
Genes, myc*
Humans
Molecular Sequence Data
Molecular Weight
Neuroblastoma / genetics*
Neuroblastoma / metabolism*
Oligodeoxyribonucleotides / metabolism*
Polymerase Chain Reaction / methods
Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-myc / biosynthesis
Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-myc / metabolism*
Transcription Factors / metabolism
Transcription, Genetic
Tumor Cells, Cultured

Substances

Basic Helix-Loop-Helix Leucine Zipper Transcription Factors
Basic-Leucine Zipper Transcription Factors
DNA, Neoplasm
DNA-Binding Proteins
MAX protein, human
Myc associated factor X
Oligodeoxyribonucleotides
Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-myc
Transcription Factors
DNA