Tumorigenesis is a multistep process that involves the activation of oncogenes and the inactivation of tumor suppressor genes. The transforming activity of the v-Abl oncogene of Abelson murine leukemia virus (A-MuLV) in immortal cell lines has been well studied, while the eects of v-Abl in primary ®broblasts are less clear. Here we show that v-Abl causes cell cycle arrest in primary mouse embryonic ®broblasts (MEFs) and elevated levels of both p53 and the cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor p21Cip . p537/7 or p19ARF 7/7 MEFs were resistant to v-Abl-induced cell cycle arrest. Although wild-type MEFs were resistant to v-Abl transforming activity, p53 7/7 or p19ARF 7/7 MEFs were susceptible. The results indicate that loss of p19ARF and p53 function plays an important role during the transformation of primary cells by v-Abl. We suggest that although v-Abl is a potent oncogene, its full potential transforming activity cannot be realized until the ARF-, and p53-dependent growth inhibitory pathway is disabled. We also show that p53 is not the mediator of v-Abl toxicity in immortal ®broblasts and does not determine the susceptibility of immortal ®broblasts to vAbl transformation.

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South African Employment Relations – Theory and Practice Nel, P.S. (editor) (2002), Van Schaik Publishers This is the new edition of the previously published South African Industrial Relations and it specifically sets out to revisit this body of knowledge and update "theorists and practitioners" on developments in the field of labour or employment relations since 1999.

The range of contributing authors, including the editor, (who are certainly significantly representative of the HRD body of knowledge and application in this country) have chosen to address a longstanding gap in locally produced resources in this area. In that sense, the book is, indeed, long overdue (as pointed out in the foreword) and will make a meaningful contribution.

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