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An inducible gene involved in commitment of lymphocytes to transform

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Abstract

CONCANAVALIN A (Con A) stimulates nondividing lymphocytes (in G0) to transform and enter the division cycle1. Within 3 h a significant proportion of the cells become committed to transform and do so after the removal of Con A (ref. 2). When the translation of mRNA into protein is inhibited (by low concentrations of anisomycin) lymphocyte transformation is also blocked3. Anisomycin has proved particularly useful in studying lymphocyte transformation because its effect is reversible: in the presence of Con A it holds the cells in G0, apparently without adverse effects, and the cells transform following its removal3. Using anisomycin it has been shown that Con A induces the synthesis of factor(s) which commit lymphocytes to transform3. I have examined the stability and nature of the ‘transformation signal’, again exploiting the reversible effect of anisomycin, and report here that on binding to the surface of nondividing lymphocytes, Con A induces the transcription of a short-lived mRNA. This mRNA encodes a ‘transformation factor’ which, when translated, commits lymphocytes to enter the division cycle; extracellular Con A is no longer required.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Biochemistry, University of Cambridge, Tennis Court Road, Cambridge, UK

    JO MILNER

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  1. JO MILNER
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MILNER, J. An inducible gene involved in commitment of lymphocytes to transform. Nature 275, 660–661 (1978). https://doi.org/10.1038/275660a0

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