Abstract

A common integration site, cloned from MoMuLV-induced rat T cell lymphomas was mapped immediately upstream of Ndy1, a gene expressed primarily in ES cells, hematopoietic stem cells, testis, spleen and thymus. Ndy1 encodes a chromatin-associated nuclear protein. Ndy1 and its homolog Ndy2, which is also a target of provirus integration in retrovirus-induced lymphomas, encode proteins that were recently shown to possess JmjC-dependent histone H3 demethylase activity. Mouse embryo fibroblasts (MEFs) engineered to express Ndy1 or Ndy2 undergo immortalization in the absence of replicative senescence via a JmjC domain-dependent process. Knock down of endogenous Ndy1 or expression of JmjC domain mutants of Ndy1 promotes senescence, suggesting that Ndy1 is a physiological inhibitor of senescence in dividing cells. Infection of bone marrow cells with a high titer MigR1/Ndy1 retrovirus led to the reproducible isolation of immortalized cultures that have the phenotypic characteristics of hematopoietic stem cells. We conclude that Ndy-mediated demethylation of histone H3, promotes cell immortalization, oncogenesis and the cycling of stem cells.

Full Text
Paper version not known

Talk to us

Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have

Schedule a call

Disclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.