Identifying mutant genes in the LNCaP and 22Rv1 prostate cancer cell lines

We used a modification of GINI analysis to identify genes containing premature translation termination codons (PTC) generated by nonsense or frameshift mutations in prostate cancer cell lines. The analysis was performed in two steps. In the first step nonsense mediated mRNA decay (NMD) was inhibited in prostate cancer cell lines using incubation with medium containing caffeine for 4 hours. Gene expression analysis of caffeine treated or untreated cells after this step detects mRNA accumulation that takes place for genes containing PTC and as well as for genes that show induction of transciption due to stress caused by NMD inhibition. In the second step either both transcription and NMD or transcription only are blocked by incubating cell in a medium containing either both actinomycin D and caffeine or actinomacin D only for 4 hours. Gene expression analysis after this second step detects mRNA degradation for genes containing PTC as well as for genes that show induction of transciption due to stress caused by NMD inhibition. The efficiency of mRNA degradation for genes containing PTC during this step depends on whether NMD is inhibited or not. The efficiency of mRNA degradation for stress response genes does not depend on whether NMD is inhibited or not.

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Kunnev D, Ivanov I, Ionov Y