| Mutations in the von Hippel-Lindau (VHL) tumor suppressor gene cause the VHL hereditary cancer associated with clear cell renal carcinomas. We tested the effects of VHL on renal cell morphology using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and fluorescent microscopy, using VHL-null cells (VHL(-)) and those with VHL reintroduced (VHL(+)). Cells were grown for four weeks and fixed each week. SEM analysis showed significant morphological differences between VHL(-) cells and VHL(+) cells. We also looked at the effects of HIF-2alpha on cell morphology. No difference between VHL(-) and cells with lowered HIF-2alpha levels was seen, indicating that HIF-alpha is not responsible for cell morphological differentiation. To investigate whether VHL-directed morphological effects on cells are cell-autonomous, VHL(+) cells with green fluorescent protein were plated with VHL(-) cells, and vice versa. The VHL(+) cells had no effect on the surrounding VHL(-) cells, and vice versa , indicating that VHL-directed morphological changes are cell autonomous. |
