Cloning and chromosomal localization of human WIG-1/PAG608 and demonstration of amplification with increased expression in primary squamous cell carcinoma of the lung

In this report, we describe the cloning of the coding region of human WIG-1 cDNA. The human 8 and 6 kb WIG-1 transcripts are both upregulated following ionizing irradiation of the human colon cancer cell lines HCT116 and LoVo which have wild type TP53 but not in DLD1 cells that lack wild type TP53. Basal levels of both WIG-1 transcripts were detected in human adult brain, kidney, and testis, but not in fetal brain, heart, pancreas, adrenal gland, fetal liver, and small intestine. FISH analysis mapped the human WIG-1 gene to 3q26.3. Investigation of squamous cell carcinomas of the lung by Southern blot and semiquantitative RT-PCR analysis showed amplification in combination with increased expression of WIG-1 in 1/7 tumors and increased expression in a further two cases.