Expression of the c-Harvey ras oncogene alters peptide synthesis in the neurosecretory cell line AtT20

Ras proteins are enriched in neurosecretory cells suggesting that ras may play an important role in regulating the differentiated properties of such cells. We introduced the human H-ras oncogene, EJ-ras, into the model secretory cell line AtT20 to determine the effects of ras oncogene expression on neuropeptide synthesis and release. We report here that both of these processes are changed in ras-transfected AtT20 cells. Stimulated release of the pituitary hormone corticotropin is reduced, and transcription of the gene encoding its precursor, proopiomelanocortin, is down-regulated. At the same time, expression of other genes, both housekeeping and neural-specific, remain relatively unchanged. The alteration of proopiomelanocortin expression in AtT20 cells following ras oncogene transformation supports the hypothesis that ras may play a role in the determination of the differentiated phenotype of neurosecretory cells.