Myc and Ras collaborate in inducing accumulation of active cyclin E/Cdk2 and E2F.

Considerable evidence points to a role for G1 cyclin-dependent kinase (CDK) in allowing the accumulation of E2F transcription factor activity and induction of the S phase of the cell cycle. Numerous experiments have also demonstrated a critical role for both Myc and Ras activities in allowing cell-cycle progression. Here we show that inhibition of Ras activity blocks the normal growth-dependent activation of G1 CDK, prevents activation of the target genes of E2F, and results in cell-cycle arrest in G1. We also show that Ras is essential for entry into the S phase in Rb+/+ fibroblasts but not in Rb-/- fibroblasts, establishing a link between Ras and the G1 CDK/Rb/E2F pathway. However, although expression of Ras alone will not induce G1 CDK activity or S phase, coexpression of Ras with Myc allows the generation of cyclin E-dependent kinase activity and the induction of S phase, coincident with the loss of the p27 cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor (CKI). These results suggest that Ras, along with the activation of additional pathways, is required for the generation of G1 CDK activity, and that activation of cyclin E-dependent kinase in particular depends on the cooperative action of Ras and Myc.