Transcription factor levels in medullary thyroid carcinoma cells differentiated by Harvey ras oncogene: c-jun is increased

Abstract

In the TT cell line of human medullary thyroid carcinoma, the viral Harvey ras (v-rasH) oncogene induces differentiation, marked by morphological changes, diminution of growth, and increased expression of the calcitonin gene. Here, we show that the transcriptional factor c-jun is increased during v-rasH induced differentiation of TT cells both at the mRNA and functional protein levels. In contrast, nuclear proteins with binding activities related to AP2, AP3, NF1/CTF, and Sp1 were unchanged in v-rasH differentiated TT cells.