REDUCED LEVELS OF ALPHA-1 (I) COLLAGEN MESSENGER-RNA IN CELLS IMMORTALIZED BY MUTANT P53 OR TRANSFORMED BY RAS

Genes whose expression patterns are altered in a cell line immortalized by mutant p53 were isolated by differential screening of a cDNA library. Levels of alpha-1 (I) collagen mRNA were reduced in the majority of immortalized cell lines which greatly overproduced the transfected mutant p53. This may reflect a co-selection during the establishment of the cell lines, rather than a direct effect of p53 on alpha-1 (I) collagen gene expression. On the other hand, a more direct relationship could be demonstrated between the expression of activated ras and a reduction in alpha-1 (I) collagen mRNA. Such reduction could partially account for the effects of ras on cell shape and cell proliferation.