Absence of correlation of MUC1 expression to malignant behavior of renal cell carcinoma in experimental systems.

A correlation between MUC1 expression in renal cell carcinomas (RCCs) and the clinical stages was previously demonstrated. To assess whether MUC1 expression is causally related to malignant tumor behavior, MUC1 cDNA was stably transfected into a renal carcinoma cell line SN12C that expresses trace levels of MUC1. MUC1 with sialylated carbohydrate chains was detected on the surface of transfected cells in two independent experiments.

Endonucleases.

Programmed cell death (PCD) involves hydrolysis of genomic DNA, which must be catalyzed by endonuclease(s) capable of digesting dsDNA. Plants have two major classes of endonucleases active towards dsDNA, Zn2+-dependent endonuclease and Ca2+-dependent endonuclease. Both classes are found among endonucleases nominated for machineries of PCD in plants.