The characterization of growth arrest-associated genes has revealed that cells actively suppress mitotic growth in response to extracellular signals. Mouse 3T3-L1 cells growth arrest at multiple distinct points during terminal differentiation to adipocytes. We examined the expression of growth arrest-specific (gas) and growth arrest- and DNA damage-inducible (gadd) genes as a function of 3T3-L1 growth arrest and adipocyte development. These growth arrest-associated genes are differentially expressed throughout adipocyte development. Some of the gas/gadd genes are preferentially expressed in a subset of growth arrest states. In contrast, gas1 and gas3 are expressed in serum-starved adipoblasts, contact-inhibited adipoblasts, and post-mitotic adipocytes. However, in post-mitotic adipocytes, gas1 and gas3 are induced in response to nutrient deprivation, not altered growth status. gas6 is an exception to the general concordance of mitotic growth arrest and gas/gadd expression in that gas6 is preferentially expressed during the clonal expansion of postconfluent adipoblasts. Combined, the expression patterns indicate that growth arrest-associated genes are regulated by numerous signal transduction pathways throughout a discrete developmental transition.

• PMID: 9019159
• PubMed
• PubTator

Reference Type

Comparative Study | Journal Article | Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

Authors

Shugart EC, Levenson AS, Constance CM, Umek RM

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