A c-ras-Ki oncogene is activated, amplified and overexpressed in a human osteosarcoma cell line

Abstract We present a characterization of an activated oncogene which we found to be present in DNA of the OHA osteosarcoma cell line. We identify this tumor oncogene which transforms Swiss mouse 3T3-cells, with c-ras-Ki 2, one of two known members of the Kirsten ras family of human proto-oncogenes. Its structural outlines are given and we show that: 1) a single point mutation causing a substitution of valine for glycine in codon 12 was found by DNA sequencing; 2) the c-ras-Ki gene is amplified and overexpressed in the original OHA tumor cells and its transformants and 3) the gene product is an abnormal form of the p21 protein.