RNA sequencing analysis of Nras mutant MEFs

Purpose: Emerging evidence in the field of RAS biology is beginning to illustrate that RAS mutations are functionally distinct. To elucidate functional differences between NRAS mutants we performed RNA-sequencing on mouse embryonic fibroblasts (MEFs) expressing different NRAS codon 61 variants from the endogenous gene locus Methods: MEFs were isolated from Tyr::CRE-ERT2 LSL-Nras mouse models containing different Nras variants in the endogeous gene locus. NRAS expression was induced in MEFs using an Adenoviral Cre delivery system. RNA was isolated from MEFs six days post-NRAS induction and submitted for RNA-sequencing Results: Differential expression and gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA) between NRAS variants revealed enrichment of transcripts associated with cellular proliferation between all mutant Nras alleles versus wild-type Nras. Further, MEFs expressing NRAS mutants capable of driving melanoma formation were enriched for transcripts associated with RAS-MYC signaling axis. Conclusion: While all NRAS mutants are capable of enhancing cellular proliferation versus wild-type NRAS, the melanomagenic potential of these mutants correlates with the ability to enhance activation of the RAS-MYC signaling axis RNA-Seq analysis MEFs expressing different Nras variants from the endogenous gene locus (Q61R, Q61H, Q61P, Q61Q)