ABERRANT EXPRESSION OF THE MYELOID ZINC-FINGER GENE, MZF-1, IS ONCOGENIC

The zinc finger gene MZF-1 is preferentially expressed in primitive he matopoietic cells and plays an important role in regulating myelopoies is. Regulators of development are potential targets for neoplastic tra nsformation. This study investigated whether unregulated expression of MZF-1 could function as an oncogene. Retroviral transduction and subs equent overexpression of MZF-1 resulted in loss of contact inhibition, loss of substrate dependence, and more rapid cell cycling in NIH 3T3 cells. The MZF-1-transformed 3T3 cells formed aggressive tumors in ath ymic mice. Disruption of the tight lineage- and stage-specific regulat ion of MZF-1 can result in neoplastic transformation of embryonic fibr oblasts. Therefore, MZF-1 represents a novel oncogene.