A link between ferritin gene expression and ribonucleotide reductase R2 protein, as demonstrated by retroviral vector mediated stable expression of R2 cDNA.

We have constructed a retroviral expression vector for the mammalian ribonucleotide reductase R2 component. Stable infectants, which express a myc epitope tagged R2 protein from the vector cDNA were obtained and described for the first time. Cells containing the recombinant protein exhibited increased ribonucleotide reductase activity, and were resistant to the antitumour agent hydroxyurea, which targets the R2 component of ribonucleotide reductase. Furthermore, a direct link between ferritin gene expression and R2 protein was observed, since cells containing vector expressed recombinant R2 protein exhibited increased H-chain and L-chain ferritin gene expression.