CONTROL OF ALBUMIN AND ALPHA-FETOPROTEIN EXPRESSION IN RAT-LIVER AND IN SOME TRANSPLANTABLE HEPATOCELLULAR CARCINOMAS

Albumin and α-fetoprotein production by rat liver and by four selected transplantable hepatocellular carcinomas is compared to the messenger RNA present in these tissues. Albumin and α-fetoprotein were measured by radioimmunoassay of serum concentration, immunofluorescence, and in vitro incorporation of labeled amino acids into proteins specifically precipitated by antisera. The number of mRNA molecules per cell was calculated from the hybridization of specific cDNA probes to polysomal mRNA and by translational activity of polysomal RNA in a wheat germ system. The amount of albumin and α-fetoprotein produced by the different tissues is directly related to the number of functional mRNA molecules per cell for each protein. © 1979.