Glucose depletion accounts for the induction of two transformation-sensitive membrane proteinsin Rous sarcoma virus-transformed chick embryo fibroblasts.

Chick embryo fibroblasts transformed by Rous sarcoma virus have an increased content of two membrane proteins of molecular weights 78,000 and 95,000. The increased content of the 95,000-dalton protein and the principal increase in the content of the 78,000-dalton protein are not an early consequence of cell transformation but instead are secondary to the rapid depletion of glucose from the growth medium of transformed cells. When glucose is maintained at high levels in the growth medium of transformed cells, the synthesis of the 95,000-dalton protein is arrested and that of the 78,000-dalton protein is markedly suppressed. Upon removal of glucose from the growth medium of normal cells, these proteins increase to levels comparable to those of transformed cells. Because the amount of these two proteins is influenced by the presence or absence of glucose, we suggest they be referred to as "glucose-regulated proteins." GRP-78 and GRP-95. These proteins may have an important role in regulating the utilization of glucose in cultured cells.