High-density growth arrest in Ras-transformed cells: low Cdk kinase activities in spite of absence of p27Kip Cdk-complexes

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    Abstract

    The ras oncogene transforms immortalized, contact-inhibited non-malignant murine fibroblasts into cells that are focus forming, exhibit increased saturation density, and are malignant in suitable hosts. Here, we examined changes in cell cycle control complexes as normal and Ras-transformed cells ceased to grow exponentially, to reveal the molecular basis for Ras-dependent focus formation. As normal cells entered density-dependent arrest, cyclin D1 decreased while cyclin D2 was induced and replaced D1 in Cdk4 complexes. Concomitantly, p27Kip1 levels rose and the inhibitor accumulated in both Cdk4 and Cdk2 complexes, as these kinases were inactivated. Ras-transformed cells failed to arrest at normal saturation density and showed no significant alterations in cell control complexes at this point. Yet, at an elevated density the Ras-transformed cells ceased to proliferate and entered a quiescent-like state with low Cdk4 and Cdk2 activity. Surprisingly, this delayed arrest was molecularly distinct from contact inhibition of normal cells, as it occurred in the absence of p27Kip1 induction and cyclin D1 levels remained high. This demonstrates that although oncogenic Ras efficiently disabled the normal response to contact inhibition, a separate back-up mechanism enforced cell cycle arrest at higher cell density.
    Original languageEnglish
    JournalCellular Signalling
    Volume17
    Issue number9
    Pages (from-to)1063-1073
    ISSN0898-6568
    DOIs
    Publication statusPublished - 2005

    Bibliographical note

    Keywords: Ras; High-density growth arrest; Cdk

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