Abstract
In this paper we present a new application of the detection of nuclear transcripts by fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) for studying the transcriptional activity of amplified genes in tumour cells. As a model, we have used the A431 cell line in which several amplification sites have been identified. We focused on two amplified regions: (1) the 6p12 region, which was found amplified by using comparative genomic hybridization, and which contains an amplification of the hsp90 beta gene; (2) the 7p12–p13 region, which displays a 20- to 30-fold amplification of the gene encoding the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFr). By using FISH to detect nuclear transcripts, we show that the extra-copies of the hsp90 beta and EGFr genes are actively transcribed within the sites of amplification. This work illustrates the potential of this method as a tool for functional in situ cytogenetic analyses.
Similar content being viewed by others
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Additional information
Received: 13 May 1997 / Accepted: 25 June 1997
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Jolly, C., Michelland, S., Rocchi, M. et al. Analysis of the transcriptional activity of amplified genes in tumour cells by fluorescence in situ hybridization. Hum Genet 101, 81–87 (1997). https://doi.org/10.1007/s004390050591
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s004390050591