Hsp60/chaperonin gene expression and differentiation of human colon adenocarcinoma and multipotent leukaemic cells

Abstract

Elevated mitochondrial gene expression is an early event in the switch from proliferation to differentiation of the human colon adenocarcinoma cell line, HT29, promoted by trehalose replacement of exogenous glucose. Here we report the isolation and elevated expression of hsp60, the gene encoding chaperonin, a mitochondrial protein required for assembly of mitochondrial and cellular proteins. In contrast to HT29, leukaemic cells (HL60 and K562) neither differentiated nor altered their mitochondrial gene expression after treatment with trehalose. However, differentiation of these cells, as promoted by 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate actually resulted in decreased levels of hsp60 mRNA expression as well as mitochondrial RNA expression, suggesting significant differences in involvement of mitochondria in the differentiation of these cell lineages.