Production, characterization and functional activities of v-Ski in cultured cells.

The v-ski oncogene was introduced into mammalian cells in order to study its biochemical and biological properties. v-Ski, produced at relatively high levels by mouse L cells stably transfected with this DNA, was localized to the cell nucleus, was of correct apparent molecular mass, and was capable of complexing with DNA. Transient transfection of reporter plasmids into control or Ski producing mouse L cells revealed that Ski acts as a transcriptional activator of various transcriptional regulatory elements, including CMVie, RSV LTR and SV40. These results indicate that mouse L cells contain the nuclear cofactor(s) required for the ability of v-Ski to bind to DNA and also suggest that the v-Ski present within the cells is functional.