PROTEIN AND GENE PARTICIPATING IN THE DIFFERENTIATION OF IMMORTALIZED CELLS

摘要

A novel gene unexpectedly isolated by chance in an attempt to isolate another gene expressed specifically in immortalized cells via an antibody-screening with the use of an antibody against a protein occurring specifically in immortalized cells. The thus isolated gene, which is a novel one showing any significant homology with no gene on the data base, is expressed strongly in skeletal muscles and undifferentiated cells. The protein encoded by this gene has an activity of inhibiting the differentiation of myoblasts into myotubes. It also inhibits the transactivation function of a transcription factor p53 participating in the suppression of tumor.