Growth factor-independent expression of the gene encoding eukaryotic translation initiation factor 4E in transformed cell lines.

Activation of protein synthesis is necessary for the transition of cells from quiescence to proliferation, while withdrawal of growth factors leads to decrease in protein synthesis and transition of normal cells into the resting period. It is shown in this paper that serum growth factors are required for activation of expression of gene encoding translation initiation factor 4E (eIF-4E) in non-transformed NIH 3T3 and Rat-1 fibroblasts but this requirement is lost in C6 glioblastoma, A431 carcinoma and N-myc transformed Rat-1 cells. These data raise the possibility that neoplastic transformation leads to growth factor-independent expression of eIF-4E, thus facilitating continuous growth and replication of transformed cells.