Improved EBV-based shuttle vector system: dicistronic mRNA couples the synthesis of the Epstein-Barr nuclear antigen-1 protein to neomycin resistance.

Use of EBV-based vector systems has been limited by the requirement to generate EBNA+ cells which are 'permissive' for replication of an oriP-vector. In current constructs, selectable marker and EBNA-1 are not always co-expressed. This is a significant problem since the EBNA-1 gene product can be toxic in some cell types and may be selected against. In this paper, we describe a gene construct that overcomes this limitation. We have exploited the piconaviral internal ribosome entry site to allow the genes for Epstein-Barr nuclear antigen-1 and G-418 resistance to be transcribed as a dicistronic fusion mRNA under the control of the phosphoglucokinase promoter. This construct can be routinely integrated into human cell lines. The presence of EBNA-1 protein was reflected by a large increase in transfection frequencies (1000-fold) using an oriP-based vector which was shown to replicate stably in these cells with no apparent gross rearrangements detected after 8 weeks in culture. Using this system, G-418 resistance should directly reflect integration, as well as expression of the EBNA-1 gene, which, in turn, increases transfection frequencies and stability of EBV-based vector systems and should result in its increased use.

Cyclic adenosine 3',5'-monophosphate-binding proteins in human ovarian cancer: correlations with clinicopathological features.

The regulatory subunits of protein kinase A, or cyclic AMP-binding proteins, were measured in a series of 107 human ovarian tumors (89 malignant, 7 borderline, and 11 benign tumors) and related to tumor clinicopathological features and patient survival. Total cyclic AMP-binding protein levels were not significantly different between malignant tumors and either borderline or benign tumors. However, serous tumors showed significantly higher levels of total cyclic AMP-binding proteins than other malignant tumors (P = 0.007). Poorly differentiated tumors also possessed significantly higher levels of binding proteins as compared with well/moderately differentiated tumors (P < 0.01). Retrospective analysis of follow-up data also revealed a significant trend for patients with high tumor cyclic AMP-binding proteins to have poorer survival (P = 0.03). Individual binding proteins were identified by photoaffinity labeling, and the RI (Mr 48,000) protein was expressed as a percentage of total cyclic AMP-binding proteins detected. The percentage of the RI protein was not significantly different among malignant, borderline, or benign pathologies and was not associated with tumor stage, differentiation, or debulk status. The percentage of RI was significantly increased in serous tumors compared to other common epithelial malignancies (P = 0.01). In malignant tumors there was a significant positive correlation between the percentage of the RI protein and total cyclic AMP-binding proteins (P = 0.01). These data indicate that high tumor levels of cyclic AMP-binding proteins are associated with serous histology, poor differentiation, and poor patient survival.

Growth inhibition by 8-chloro cyclic AMP of human HT29 colorectal and ZR-75-1 breast carcinoma xenografts is associated with selective modulation of protein kinase A isoenzymes.

Significant dose-related inhibition of growth of HT29 human colorectal cancer xenografts and ZR-75-1 breast cancer xenografts in immune-suppressed mice was induced by the cyclic AMP analogue, 8-chloroadenosine 3',5'-cyclic monophosphate (8-Cl-cyclic AMP) when given by alzet mini-pumps over a 7-day period at doses of either 50 or 100 mg/kg/day. Levels and types of cyclic AMP binding proteins were measured by ligand binding and photoaffinity labelling, respectively, in tumours harvested at the end of the treatment period. Compared with levels in tumours from control animals, values of tumour cyclic AMP binding proteins from treated animals were significantly reduced. These effects were associated with an apparent modulation of the types of cyclic AMP binding proteins, 8-Cl-cyclic AMP-treated xenografts displaying a reduced ratio of RI/RII isoforms compared with untreated control tumours.

Cyclic adenosine 3',5'-monophosphate-binding proteins in human ovarian cancers.

The aims of the present study were to characterise an assay for cAMP-binding proteins in ovarian cancer and then to measure levels in a series of tumours with a view to developing a potential prognostic indicator for this disease. Levels and types of binding proteins have been measured in cytosols from 50 ovarian tumours. Binding proteins were detected in all tumours but, as calculated from Scatchard analysis, binding levels ranged from 267 to 12,037 fmol per mg of cytosol protein (mean value of 4248 fmol mg-1). Dissociation constants of binding varied between 0.4 x 10(-8) and 5.9 x 10(-8) (mean value 2.3 x 10(-8)). Types of binding protein were detected by incubation with the photoaffinity ligand 8-N3-[32P]cAMP, followed by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and autoradiography. Labelled proteins with molecular weights of 52, 48, 43, 39 and 37 kDa were identified in the cytosols. The proportion and pattern of bands detected varied between different cytosols. The significance of these findings awaits clinical follow-up of the patients.