A ras-related gene with transformation suppressor activity.

A 1.8 kb cDNA clone, Krev-1, with revertant-inducing activity on Kirsten sarcoma virus-transformed NIH/3T3 cells, has been isolated from a human fibroblast cDNA expression library. In Krev-1 transfectants, there is a correlation between the levels of specific mRNA and the degrees of suppression of the transformed phenotype. The cDNA encodes a protein of 21,000 daltons that unexpectedly shares around 50% amino acid identities with ras proteins. The Krev-1 homologs are found in mouse, rat, and chicken DNA, and their transcripts are ubiquitously expressed in many rat organs. Thus, the Krev-1 gene seems to play an important role(s) in a wide variety of tissues, and may be involved in the negative growth regulation of certain cell types.