Study on protein expression and cell transformation of novel cadmium related gene TIF3

  Objective   TEF-1δ, mouse translation elongation factor-1D, is a novel gene cloned from CdCl ₂-transformed BALB/c-3T3 cells.Its genbank accession number is AF304351.The objective is to test the biological functions of the gene in the cell transformation and car cinogenesis of cadmium.

  Methods   The transfection technique, western analysis and cell transformation assay were used.

  Results   Compared with untransfected and vector control, a 31 kDa protein was detected in Chinese hamster ovary(CHO)cells and in monkey kidney COS1 cells transfected with an expression vector(pcDNA 3.1/V5-His-TOPOV ector)containing TEF-1δcDNA.Furtheromore, transfection of NIH3T3 cells with an expression vector containing the TEF-1δcDNA resulted in overex pression of the encoded protein and this was associated with cell transformation.

  Conclusion   These findings demonstrated for the first time that the cell transformation and carcinogenesis induced by cadmium were due, at least in part, to the overexpression of TEF-1δ.It was probably a novel cadmium-responsive protooncogene.