Abstract
The STP-C488 oncogene of herpesvirus saimiri has transforming activity independent of the rest of the viral genome. We now demonstrate that STP- C488 associates with cellular ras in transformed cells. Mutations that disrupted this association with ras disrupted the transforming ability of the STP-C488 oncogene. Binding assays showed that STP-C488 was capable of competing with raf-1 for binding to ras. Expression of STP-C488 activated the ras signaling pathway as evidenced by a two- to fourfold increase in the ratio of ras-GTP to ras-GDP and by the constitutive activation of mitogen- activated protein kinase. Consistent with an activation of signaling through ras, STP-C488 expression induced ras-dependent neurite outgrowth in PC12 cells. STP-C488 is the first virus-encoded protein shown to achieve oncogenic transformation via association with cellular ras.
Original language | English (US) |
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Pages (from-to) | 6506-6512 |
Number of pages | 7 |
Journal | Molecular and cellular biology |
Volume | 15 |
Issue number | 12 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - Dec 1995 |
Externally published | Yes |
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Molecular Biology
- Cell Biology