Relationship between chemically induced Ha-ras mutation and transformation of BALB/c 3T3 cells: evidence for chemical-specific activation and cell type-specific recruitment of oncogene in transformation.

BALB/c 3T3 cells were exposed to 7,12-dimethylbenz[a]anthracene (DMBA) and resultant transformed foci were analyzed for the presence of A182----T mutation at codon 61 of Ha-ras (a mutation found in many DMBA-induced animal tumors). None of the 30 independently cloned transformed cell lines contained such a mutation. In order to see whether DMBA is able to induce this mutation in BALB/c 3T3 cells, we developed a method sensitive enough to detect this specific mutation at the frequency of 10(-6). Employing this assay, we found time- and dose-dependent induction by DMBA of Ha-ras A182----T mutation in BALB/c 3T3 cells; for example, 2 wk after exposure to 100 micrograms/mL DMBA, 1.4 in 1 X 10(4) cells contained this specific mutation. On the other hand, other agents that also induce BALB/c 3T3 cell transformation, such as 3-methylcholanthrene (MCA), 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA), N-methyl-N'-nitro-N-nitrosoguanidine (MNNG), or ultraviolet light, did not induce the mutation at detectable frequency (less than 10(-6)). These results suggest that DMBA efficiently induces Ha-ras mutation in BALB/c 3T3 cells but that this mutation is not recruited in the process of cell transformation. A hypothesis of carcinogen-specific mutation of Ha-ras gene and its tissue (cell type)-specific recruitment in carcinogenesis is proposed.