Expression of the v-src Oncogene Induces Differentiation in PC12 Cells

Abstract

PC12 rat pheochromocytoma cells respond to nerve growth factor (NGF) protein (Calissano et al. 1984) by acquiring a new phenotype characterized by emission of neurites and increased expression of sympathetic neuron functions (Greene and Tischler 1982). In spite of extensive efforts, however, the intracellular events that in PC 12 cells transduce the signals from recepetor-bound NGF remain largely elusive. It is an established finding that expression of viral oncogenes in cells belonging to different lineages is accompanied by a specific derangement in the synthesis of differentiated products (Holtzer et al. 1982; Falcone et al. 1985). In this report we present data on the effect of infection of PC 12 cells with retroviruses carrying the src oncogene of Rous sarcoma virus (RSV) (Weiss et al. 1982).