Identification of Junctionally-Transmitted Growth Inhibitors

Abstract

We have proposed that one function of gap junctions is to transmit growth control signals. There is abundant evidence that most cancers, including breast cancers, lose the capacity to junctionally communicate and we hypothesize that this in part is responsible for their aberrant behavior. To test this hypothesis rigorously we have genetically engineered human breast cancer cells to contain the gap junction gene connexin 43 under the control of the tetracycline-inducible promoter. In the first year of this grant application, we genetically engineered MDA-435 cells to express connexin 43 under the control of a tetracycline-inducible promoter. We demonstrated that on removal of doxycycline, cells rapidly express connexin 43, integrated into the plasma membrane and became junctionally competent.

Open PDF

Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Aug 01, 2000
Accession Number
ADA389496

Entities

People

  • John Bertram

Organizations

  • University of HawaiĘ»i System

Tags

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Abstracts
  • Anti-Bacterial Agents
  • Biomedical Research
  • Breast Cancer
  • Cell Line
  • Cell Membrane
  • Cell Physiological Processes
  • Cells
  • Culture Techniques
  • Epithelial Cells
  • Identification
  • Inhibition
  • Inhibitors
  • Intercellular Junctions
  • Neoplasms

Fields of Study

  • Biology

Readers

  • Molecular Biology and Genetics

Technology Areas

  • Biotechnology