A point mutation in the last intron responsible for increased expression and transforming activity of the c-Ha-ras oncogene

Abstract

The T24/EJ allele of the Ha-ras proto-oncogene owes its powerful oncogenic activity not merely to the well documented mutation that perturbs the structure of the encoded polypeptide, but in addition to a second single nucleotide alteration in an intron that causes a tenfold increase in expression. This effect on expression is maintained upon transfer of the surrounding DNA to a heterologous gene, and as such defines a novel regulatory element.