Analysis of the p53 gene in human choriocarcinoma cell lines.

In the present study, we analysed human choriocarcinoma cell lines for abnormalities in the tumour-suppressor gene p53 by Southern blotting, Northern blotting, non-radioisotopic single-stranded conformational polymorphism (SSCP) and complementary DNA sequencing. In all cell lines (Bewo, GCH-1, GCH-2, SCH, JAR, JEG-3, NUC-1 and HCCM-5), no p53 gene abnormality was detected by using Southern blotting. p53 mRNA of the expected size was detected in all cell lines tested by Northern blotting. SSCP analysis revealed abnormalities of p53 cDNA in the SCH cell line. Sequencing analysis of the entire coding region of the p53 gene revealed that both alleles were expressed in the JEG-3 cell line, and one of the alleles contained a point mutation (G to T) in codon 167 (Gln to His). In the NUC-1 cell line both alleles were point mutated. One allele had a point mutation (A to T) that resulted in a codon 17 change (Glu to Asp), and another had a point mutation (A to T) that caused a codon 24 change (Lys to Asn). In the SCH cell line, AGG was inserted between codon 249 and 250; this insertion resulted in an abnormal structure of the p53 protein. In three out of eight human choriocarcinoma cell lines, a p53 gene abnormality was detected. Therefore our data demonstrate that p53 gene abnormalities are associated with choriocarcinoma cell lines.