The induction of ornithine decarboxylase by the tumor promoter TPA is controlled at the post-transcriptional level in murine Swiss 3T3 fibroblasts.

The expression of ornithine decarboxylase (ODC) mRNA after treatment of murine Swiss 3T3 cells with the tumor promoter TPA was studied. The induction of ODC mRNA was detectable after 20-40 min, peaked after 60-120 min and declined within 24 hrs. Using an in vitro nuclear transcription assay, we found that the polymerase II density on the ODC gene is not affected by TPA treatment. Additionally, we were able to detect stable ODC mRNAs in cycloheximide pretreated fibroblasts. These two different experimental approaches lead us to the interpretation that in Swiss 3T3 cells TPA controls ODC expression predominantly at the post transcriptional level by prolonging the half-life of ODC-mRNA.