E. Chu et al., THYMIDYLATE SYNTHASE BINDS TO C-MYC RNA IN HUMAN COLON-CANCER CELLS AND IN-VITRO, Molecular and cellular biology, 15(1), 1995, pp. 179-185
Using an immunoprecipitation-reverse transcription-PCR technique, we c
haracterized a thymidylate synthase (TS) ribonucleoprotein complex in
cultured human colon cancer cells that consists of TS protein and the
mRNA of the nuclear oncogene c-myc. TS protein is complexed in intact
cells with the C-terminal coding region of c-myc mRNA that includes nu
cleotide positions 1625 to 1790. RNA electrophoretic gel mobility shif
t assays confirm a specific interaction between TS protein and c-myc m
RNA and provide additional evidence that the C-terminal coding region
represents an important cis-acting regulatory element. Further evidenc
e demonstrates that the in vitro translational efficiency of c-myc mRN
A is inhibited as a result of its direct interaction with TS protein.
In addition, the presence of exogenous c-myc mRNA specifically relieve
s the inhibitory effects of TS protein on TS mRNA translation.