PT - JOURNAL ARTICLE AU - Mes-Masson, A.M. AU - Masson, S. AU - Banville, D. AU - Chalifour, L. TI - Expression of oncomodulin does not lead to the transformation or immortalization of mammalian cells in vitro DP - 1989 Nov 01 TA - Journal of Cell Science PG - 517--525 VI - 94 IP - 3 4099 - http://jcs.biologists.org/content/94/3/517.short 4100 - http://jcs.biologists.org/content/94/3/517.full SO - J. Cell Sci.1989 Nov 01; 94 AB - A recombinant plasmid (pMTONCO) containing the coding sequences for rat oncomodulin under the direction of the metallothionein promoter was constructed. pMTONCO was co-transfected with the pSV2-NEO plasmid into primary mouse kidney cells or Rat-1 cells using the calcium phosphate technique and stable transformants were isolated after selection with G418. Transcription from the metallothionein promoter was inducible with heavy metals and produced an oncomodulin-specific mRNA. The presence of oncomodulin protein in stable cell lines was verified by immunoprecipitation with specific antisera. While a plasmid encoding the polyomavirus T-antigens was able to prolong the life-span of primary mouse kidney cells in culture, no equivalent activity was noted when the pMTONCO plasmid was used to transfect primary cells. When expressed in Rat-1 cells, oncomodulin did not affect the growth properties of these cells, nor did it predispose cells to higher frequencies of oncogenic transformation to a viral oncogene. We conclude that oncomodulin is neither an immortalizing nor transforming agent in vitro.