AN UNEXPECTED TRANSFORMING GENE IN CALF-THYMUS CARRIER DNA - BOVINE HST

During a search for transforming genes by transfecting a human cDNA expression library together with calf thymus carrier-DNA into NIH/3T3 cells, we found a focus which was induced by a plasmid containing a sequence highly homologous to human HST (a transforming gene from Human STomach cancer). However, PCR analysis identified the source of this sequence as calf thymus DNA. The deduced amino acid (aa) sequence of bovine HST shows 91 and 81% identity to the human and mouse HST aa sequences, respectively. These data suggest that the hst of calf thymus carrier-DNA could induce transformation of NIH/3T3 cells.