UP-REGULATION OF THE APC GENE-PRODUCT DURING NEURONAL DIFFERENTIATIONOF RAT PHEOCHROMOCYTOMA PC12 CELLS

The adenomatous polyposis coli (APC) gene, the mutation of which is re sponsible for familial adenomatous polyposis and sporadic colorectal t umors, is highly expressed in the central nervous system. To elucidate the contribution of the APC protein to neuronal differentiation, chan ges in APC expression were examined during nerve growth factor (NGF)-i nduced differentiation of rat pheochromocytoma PC12 cells. The express ion of APC gradually increased throughout the time course, in particul ar it increased markedly after 7 days of exposure to NGF. However, for ced expression of APC did not induce neuronal differentiation of PC12 cells, These results suggest that the APC protein itself does not have the potential to induce neuronal differentiation, but rather is upreg ulated secondary to the differentiation of PC12 cells. (C) 1996 Academ ic Press, Inc.