[The purification of the protein alternative to alfa-fetoprotein].

The subject of the study was the unidentified protein Ag A2/3, which is found in some cells of rat hepatoma McA RH7777 and their clones. The feature of this protein is that its expression is alternative to alfa-fetoprotein (AFP), i.e.

[Suppression of alpha-fetoprotein gene expression in somatic hybrids of AFP-positive and AFP-negative clones of rat hepatoma].

The presented study is devoted to investigation of molecular mechanisms regulating alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) gene expression at transcriptional level. The study was carried out on AFP-positive and AFP-negative clones of rat hepatoma McA-RH 7777 that also differ in hepatocyte nuclear factors (HNF) 1 and 4 transcription levels. To examine a hypothesis of existence in AFP-non-producing clones a transcriptional factor that downregulates this gene expression, we have obtained somatic hybrids of AFP-positive and AFP-negative clones.

Changes in expression of surface and core antigens of hepatitis B virus in different mutant clones of hepatoma PLC-PRF-5 cells.

Mutant clones of human hepatocarcinoma PLC-PRF-5 cells carrying a hepatitis B virus (HBV) genome have been obtained using selection for resistance to the toxic action of a variety of preparations to induce cell differentiation. The clones differed in various features such as expression of alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) and albumin as well as in growth rates, ability to grow in semisolid media and to be cloned in agar. Expression of the surface antigen (HBsAg) was significantly increased in mutant cells exhibiting differentiation features in contrast to the parental cells.