Oncogenic targeting of an activated tyrosine kinase to the Golgi apparatus in a glioblastoma

Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2003 Feb 4;100(3):916-21. doi: 10.1073/pnas.242741799. Epub 2003 Jan 21.

Abstract

Activating oncogenic mutations of receptor tyrosine kinases (RTKs) have been reported in several types of cancers. In many cases, genomic rearrangements lead to the fusion of unrelated genes to the DNA coding for the kinase domain of RTKs. All RTK-derived fusion proteins reported so far display oligomerization sequences within the 5' fusion partners that are responsible for oncogenic activation. Here, we report a mechanism by which an altered RTK gains oncogenic potential in a glioblastoma cell line. A microdeletion on 6q21 results in the fusion of FIG, a gene coding for a Golgi apparatus-associated protein, to the kinase domain of the protooncogene c-ROS. The fused protein product FIG-ROS is a potent oncogene, and its transforming potential resides in its ability to interact with and become localized to the Golgi apparatus. Thus we have found a RTK fusion protein whose subcellular location leads to constitutive kinase activation and results in oncogenic transformation.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Blotting, Western
  • Cell Line
  • Cell Transformation, Neoplastic
  • Chromosomes, Human, Pair 6
  • Fluorescent Antibody Technique, Indirect
  • Glioblastoma / enzymology*
  • Glioblastoma / metabolism
  • Golgi Apparatus / metabolism*
  • Humans
  • Mice
  • Mice, Nude
  • Microscopy, Fluorescence
  • Mutation
  • Oncogene Proteins, Fusion / metabolism
  • Peptides / chemistry
  • Phosphorylation
  • Plasmids / metabolism
  • Precipitin Tests
  • Protein Isoforms
  • Protein Structure, Tertiary
  • Protein-Tyrosine Kinases
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins / chemistry*
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins / metabolism*
  • Rats
  • Receptor Protein-Tyrosine Kinases / chemistry*
  • Receptor Protein-Tyrosine Kinases / metabolism*
  • Retroviridae / genetics
  • Subcellular Fractions
  • Tumor Cells, Cultured
  • Ultracentrifugation

Substances

  • Oncogene Proteins, Fusion
  • Peptides
  • Protein Isoforms
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins
  • Protein-Tyrosine Kinases
  • ROS1 protein, human
  • Receptor Protein-Tyrosine Kinases
  • Ros1 protein, mouse
  • Ros1 protein, rat