INHIBITION OF RAS-INDUCED PROLIFERATION AND CELLULAR-TRANSFORMATION BY P16(INK4)

The cyclin-dependent kinase 4 (CDK4) regulates progression through the G(1) phase of the cell cycle. The activity of CDK4 is controlled by t he opposing effects of the D-type cyclin, an activating subunit, and p 16(INK4), inhibitory subunit. Ectopic expression of p16(INK4) blocked entry into S phase of the cell cycle induced by oncogenic Ha-Ras, and this block was relieved by coexpression of a catalytically inactive CD K4 mutant. Expression of p16(INK4) suppressed cellular transformation of primary rat embryo fibroblasts by oncogenic Ha-Ras and Myc, but not by Ha-Ras and E1a. Together, these observations provide direct eviden ce that p16(INK4) inhibit cell growth.