Description
We have demonstrated that the oncogenic activation of B-RAF (using a truncated delta-BRAF-ER version inducible with tamoxifen) in the melan-a melanocyte cell line triggers the activation of Zeb1 and Twist1 at the expanse of Zeb2 and Snail2. Enforced maintenance of Zeb2 or Snail2 expression reduces the B-RAF oncogenic potential while ectopic expression of Zeb1 or Twist1 cooperates with B-RAF in melan-a cell transformation. To get an insight into the properties of these embryonic transcription factors, gene expression profiles of melan-a-derived cell lines either expressing a non-activated B-RAF (- tamoxifen) or an activated BRAF (+ tamoxifen) alone or in combination with Snail2, Zeb2, Twist1 or Zeb1 have been established.