We have used mouse embryonic fibroblasts (MEFs) devoid of Ras proteins to illustrate that they are essential for proliferation and migration, but not for survival, at least in these cells. These properties are unique to the Ras subfamily of proteins because ectopic expression of other Ras-like small GTPases, even when constitutively active, could not compensate for the absence of Ras proteins. Only constitutive activation of components of the Raf/Mek/Erk pathway was sufficient to sustain normal proliferation and migration of MEFs devoid of Ras proteins. Activation of the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K)/PTEN/Akt and Ral guanine exchange factor (RalGEF)/Ral pathways, either alone or in combination, failed to induce proliferation or migration of Rasless cells, although they cooperated with Raf/Mek/Erk signalling to reproduce the full response mediated by Ras signalling. In contrast to current hypotheses, Ras signalling did not induce proliferation by inducing expression of D-type Cyclins. Rasless MEFs had normal levels of Cyclin D1/Cdk4 and Cyclin E/Cdk2. However, these complexes were inactive. Inactivation of the pocket proteins or knock down of pRb relieved MEFs from their dependence on Ras signalling to proliferate.

The Ras family of small GTPases constitutes a central node in the transmission of mitogenic stimuli to the cell cycle machinery. The ultimate receptor of these mitogenic signals is the retinoblastoma (Rb) family of pocket proteins, whose inactivation is a required step to license cell proliferation. However, little is known regarding the molecular events that connect Ras signaling with the cell cycle. Here, we provide genetic evidence to illustrate that the p53/ p21 Cdk-interacting protein 1 (Cip1)/Rb axis is an essential component of the Ras signaling pathway. Indeed, knockdown of p53, p21Cip1, or Rb restores proliferative properties in cells arrested by ablation of the three Ras loci, H-, N-and K-Ras. Ras signaling selectively inactivates p53-mediated induction of p21Cip1 expression by inhibiting acetylation of specific lysine residues in the p53 DNA binding domain. Proliferation of cells lacking both Ras proteins and p53 can be prevented by reexpression of the human p53 ortholog, provided that it retains an active DNA binding domain and an intact lysine residue at position 164. These results unveil a previously unidentified role for p53 in preventing cell proliferation under unfavorable mitogenic conditions. Moreover, we provide evidence that cells lacking Ras and p53 proteins owe their proliferative properties to the unexpected retroactivation of the Raf/Mek/Erk cascade by a Ras-independent mechanism.T he RAS genes have been extensively studied due to their key role in mediating mitogenic signaling as well as their high prevalence in human cancers, including those cancers with poor survival rates, such as lung adenocarcinoma, colorectal carcinoma, and pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (1, 2). However, the mechanisms by which Ras proteins mediate mitogenic signaling in either normal or tumor cells remain obscure, especially beyond activation of the Raf/Mek/Erk cascade. Recent genetic studies have underscored the relevance of Ras proteins in cellular homeostasis by demonstrating that cells lacking the three Ras loci, H-Ras, N-Ras, and K-Ras (Rasless cells), are completely unable to proliferate (3, 4). Indeed, systemic ablation of these loci in adult mice causes rapid deterioration of multiple tissues, leading to their death in a few days.GTP-loaded Ras proteins promote activation of various downstream signal transduction pathways, mainly the Raf/Mek/Erk kinase cascade, the PI3K/Akt route, and the Ral guanine dissociation stimulator (RalGDS) pathway (1). Activation of other pathways, such as those pathways driven by the Rac family of small G proteins and phospholipase C, has also been illustrated (1). However, genetic interrogation of the pathways essential for cell proliferation has illustrated that only constitutive activation of the Raf, Mek, or Erk kinase can bypass the requirement for Ras proteins to sustain cell division, at least in vitro (3, 4). Indeed, constitutive activation of the PI3K/Akt and RalGDS pathways was incapable of inducing cell proliferation in the absence of Ras proteins. In agreement wit...

Highlights d Combined Egfr/Raf1 ablation results in complete regression of a subset of PDACs d Mouse mutant Kras/Trp53-induced PDACs display distinct transcriptional profiles d PDAC transcriptional profiles determine their response to Egfr/Raf1 ablation d EGFR/c-RAF inhibition also prevents proliferation of PDXderived tumor cells

Transforming growth factor-beta1 (TGF-beta1), the main cytokine involved in liver fibrogenesis, induces expression of the type I collagen genes in hepatic stellate cells by a transcriptional mechanism, which is hydrogen peroxide and de novo protein synthesis dependent. Our recent studies have revealed that expression of type I collagen and matrix metalloproteinase-13 (MMP-13) mRNAs in hepatic stellate cells is reciprocally modulated. Because TGF-beta1 induces a transient elevation of alpha1(I) collagen mRNA, we investigated whether this cytokine was able to induce the expression of MMP-13 mRNA during the downfall of the alpha1(I) collagen mRNA. In the present study, we report that TGF-beta1 induces a rapid decline in steady-state levels of MMP-13 mRNA at the time that it induces the expression of alpha1(I) collagen mRNA. This change in MMP-13 mRNA expression occurs within the first 6 h postcytokine administration and is accompanied by a twofold increase in gene transcription and a fivefold decrease in mRNA half-life. This is followed by increased expression of MMP-13 mRNA, which reaches maximal values by 48 h. Our results also show that this TGF-beta1-mediated effect is de novo protein synthesis-dependent and requires the activity of p38MAPK, phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase, AKT, and p70(S6k). Altogether, our data suggest that regulation of MMP-13 by TGF-beta1 is a complex process involving transcriptional and posttranscriptional mechanisms.