Induction of β-casein mRNA accumulation by the putative prolactin second messenger added to the culture medium of cultured mammary epithelial cells

• Published in: FEBS letters 1982-11, Vol.148 (2), p.242-246
• Main Authors: Servely, J.L., Teyssot, B., Houdebine, L.M., Delouis, C., Djiane, J., Kelly, P.A.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Animals; Caseins - genetics; cDNA probe; Cells, Cultured; Chorionic Gonadotropin - pharmacology; Colchicine - pharmacology; Epithelium - metabolism; Female; Follicle Stimulating Hormone - pharmacology; Mammary cell culture; Mammary Glands, Animal - drug effects; Mammary Glands, Animal - metabolism; Microsome; Microsomes - metabolism; Pregnancy; Prolactin; Prolactin - pharmacology; Pseudopregnancy - metabolism; Rabbits; RNA, Messenger - genetics; Second messenger; Transcription, Genetic - drug effects; β-Casein mRNA
• ISSN: 0014-5793; 1873-3468
• DOI: 10.1016/0014-5793(82)80816-8

It has been observed that the incubation of mammary membranes with prolactin provokes the release of a factor which is a potent stimulator of beta -casein gene transcription when added to isolated nuclei. This factor is specifically generated by lactogenic hormones and it stimulates at least one of the prolactin-sensitive genes. The active fraction liberated from mammary membranes by prolactin has a small M sub(r)-value. Here, the supernatant from membranes which contain the putative prolactin second messenger were added to the culture medium of isolated mammary epithelial cells, in an attempt to provoke the accumulation of casein rRNA and mimic prolactin action and in order to overcome possible problems encountered with the use of isolated nuclei.