Isolation of Genes Which Block Neuronal Differentiation of Teratocarcinoma PCC7 Cells

Since several viral oncoproteins block differentiation and induce proliferation of differentiated cells, we developed an expression screening method to isolate cDNAs which block neuronal differentiation and induce proliferation of teratocarcinoma cells. Mouse E2F1, RNP-1, and RNP-2 (Regulator of Neuronal Proliferation) were isolated using the developed screening method. Overexpression of E2F1, RNP-1, and RNP-2 cDNAs in neuronally differentiated teratocarcinoma PCC7 cells results in blocking differentiation and initiation of proliferation. Also, expression of RNP-1 and RNP-2 blocks the expression of neurofilament-L and GAP-43 genes in PCC7 cells.