Messenger RNA for a phorbol-ester induced 48,000 dalton protein from human melanoma cells.

Messenger RNA of the phorbol ester-induced 48kDa protein from human melanoma cells (Bowes) was isolated, characterized and used to study the protein processing. The 48kDa mRNA is induced simultaneously with that of tissue-type plasminogen activator. This induction is prominent as shown by sedimentation profiles on linear sucrose gradients. The mRNA can be isolated by classical phenol extractions, has a poly(A)-tail and sediments with a coefficient of 20 S. Translation in reticulocyte lysates yields a 48kDa protein whether the translation is modified with canine pancreas microsomal membranes or not. Analysis of 48kDa mRNA translation products by sodium dodecyl sulphate/polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis showed that the phorbol ester-induced 48kDa is a monomeric one-chain polypeptide. Glycosylation could not be detected, nor signal peptide cleaving, suggesting that it is a non-secreted intracellular protein.