Activation of the gene for atrial natriuretic factor during in vitro cardiac myogenesis by P19 embryonal carcinoma cells.

We examined the transcriptional activity profile of the gene for atrial natriuretic factor (ANF) in mouse embryonal carcinoma P19 cells which had been induced for in vitro cardiac myogenesis. Differentiation was assessed visually, by the degree of spontaneous beating activity, and by the appearance of striated muscle structures detected by immunofluorescence with a myosin heavy chain antibody. Northern blot analysis of RNA isolated at regular intervals throughout the differentiation program revealed abundant cardiac alpha-actin transcripts beginning at Day 6, reaching maximum levels during Days 7 to 8 and declining to low levels by Days 12 to 15. Throughout this period, the transcriptional profile of the ANF gene was similar to that of alpha-actin but at lower levels; thus, in vivo stages of abundant ANF and structural muscle gene transcription were not reached and these gene expression states appear to be uncoupled. Using the more sensitive assay of reverse transcriptase-mediated polymerase chain reactions, we observed the presence of ANF transcripts even in small samples of muscle-induced P19 cells and not in neuron-induced or undifferentiated P19 cells. Induced ANF transcript levels reached about 5-10% that found in adult atrium muscle tissue. ANF gene activity was further corroborated by nuclear transcriptional run-on assays. The P19 stem cell model system will be of value in the study of early events during cardiac muscle commitment and differentiation.