Transforming genes of human bladder and lung carcinoma cell lines are homologous to the ras genes of Harvey and Kirsten sarcoma viruses.

Abstract

Blot hybridization analysis indicated that NIH 3T3 mouse cells transformed by high MW DNA of a human bladder and a human lung carcinoma cell line contained new sequences homologous, respectively, to the transforming genes of Harvey (rasH) and Kirsten (rasK) sarcoma viruses. The unique ras sequences were present in multiple independent NIH cell lines transformed in both primary and secondary transfection assays and corresponded to ras sequences normally present in human DNA. The ras gene product was expressed in NIH cells transformed by bladder carcinoma DNA and in the human bladder carcinoma cell lines at levels 2- to 4-fold > the level observed in nontransformed NIH 3T3 cells. The transforming genes of these human tumor cell lines apparently are the cellular homologs of 2 retroviral transforming genes.