Urokinase-type plasminogen activator biosynthesis is induced by the EJ-Ha-ras oncogene in CL26 mouse colon carcinoma cells.

CL26 murine colon carcinoma cells express urokinase-type plasminogen activator (u-PA) mRNA and activity after transfection with the activated c-Ha-ras-I (EJ-ras) oncogene cloned from the EJ bladder carcinoma. PA activity and mRNA in control cells transfected with the non-mutated c-Ha-ras-I (CO-ras) gene remained negative. Ras mRNA was detected in EJ-ras- and CO-ras-transfected cells, but not in untransfected or pSV2-neo-transfected cells. These results indicate that u-PA biosynthesis can be modulated by EJ-Ha-ras-dependent pathways of signal transduction.