Establishment and characterization of a malignant melanocytic tumor cell line expressing the ret oncogene

We established a cell line (designated Mel-ret) from a melanocytic tumor developed in a metallothionein/ret transgenic mouse. Unlike primary melanocytic tumors, which did not show malignant features, when the Mel-ret cells were transplanted into nude mice they invaded into surrounding tissues and had metastatic ability. Although the Ret proteins were expressed at similar levels in the cell line and the primary tumors, the level of tyrosine phosphorylation in the Mel-ret cells was much higher than that in the primary tumors. In particular, an 85-kDa tyrosine-phosphorylated band was specifically detected in the Mel-ret cells. These results suggest that the increase in tyrosine phosphorylation may be responsible for malignant transformation of the Mel-ret cells. Immunofluorescence and cell fractionation studies showed that the Ret proteins and most of tyrosine-phosphorylated proteins in the Mel-ret cells localized in the membrane fraction. No activation of phosphatidylinositol-3 kinase (PI-3 kinase), a target protein for several tyrosine kinases, was detected in the Mel-ret cells.