Altered nuclear matrix protein profiles in oncogene-transformed mouse fibroblasts exhibiting high metastatic potential.

The nuclear matrix provides the structural support of the nucleus and is involved in various cellular functions of the nucleus. Nuclear matrix proteins, which are both tissue and cell type specific, are altered with transformation and state of differentiation. Here, nuclear matrix protein profiles of oncogene-transformed mouse fibroblasts with various degrees of metastatic activity were analyzed using two-dimensional gel electrophoresis. This study shows that as the metastatic potential increases, similar nuclear matrix protein profiles are associated with each increase regardless of transformation agent.