Identification of DPPA4 and DPPA2 as a novel family of pluripotency-related oncogenes.

ABSTRACT: In order to identify novel pluripotency-related oncogenes, an expression screen for oncogenic foci-inducing genes within a retroviral human embryonic stem cell cDNA library was conducted. From this screen, we identified not only known oncogenes but also intriguingly the key pluripotency factor, DPPA4 (developmental pluripotency-associated four) that encodes a DNA binding SAP domain-containing protein. DPPA4 has not been previously identified as an oncogene but is highly expressed in embryonal carcinomas, pluripotent germ cell tumors, and other cancers. DPPA4 is also mutated in some cancers. In direct transformation assays, we validated that DPPA4 is an oncogene in both mouse 3T3 cells and immortalized human dermal fibroblasts. Overexpression of DPPA4 generates oncogenic foci (sarcoma cells

SUBMITTER: Tung PY 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3922068 | biostudies-literature | 2013 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature