Cotransfer of two linked human genes into cultured mouse cells

Number and size of human X chromosome fragments transferred to mouse cells by chromosome-mediated gene transfer

Labeled probes of unique-sequence human X chromosomal deoxyribonucleic acid, prepared by two different procedures, were used to measure the amount of human X chromosomal deoxyribonucleic acid in 12 mouse cell lines expressing human hypoxanthine phosphoribosyltransferase after chromosome-mediated gene transfer. The amount of X chromosomal deoxyribonucleic acid detected by this procedure ranged from undetectable levels in the three stable transformants and some unstable transformants examined to about 20% of the human X chromosome in two unstable transformants. Reassociation kinetics of the X chromosomal probe with deoxyribonucleic acid from the two unstable transformants containing 15 to 20% of the human X chromosome indicate that a single copy of these sequences is present. In one of these lines, the X chromosomal sequences exist as multiple fragments which were not concordantly segregated when the cells were selected for loss of hprt.

Insertion of dominant selectable markers into the human genome

In the above discussion, I have outlined the current status of our efforts to use retroviral vectors to introduce selectable markers into the human genome and to use these markers for mapping specific chromosomal regions. I have not reviewed in detail the extensive characterization of the mouse H-2 region carried out by David Nelson and John Weis based on the insertion of a single retroviral element. This analysis has provided a model for the application of retroviral elements into various regions of the human genome. The prospects for increasing the resolution of the human genetic map and identifying many genes relevant to human health and development are likely to be enhanced by increasing the precision of this methodology.

Chromosome mediated gene transfer of six DNA markers linked to the cystic fibrosis locus on human chromosome seven

The DNA probes met and pJ3.11 are derived from loci on chromosome seven that are closely linked to, and probably flanking, the gene mutation causing cystic fibrosis (CF). We have shown that mitotic chromosomes from the cell line MNNG-HOS, which contains an activated met oncogene, can induce morphological transformation of mouse NIH-3T3 cells. Southern analysis of isolated transfectant cell lines with cloned dispersed repetitive human DNA sequences as probes demonstrated that several lines of transformed NIH 3T3 cells had stabley incorporated large segments of chromosome seven DNA. Southern blot analysis also demonstrated the presence of met, pJ3.11 and several other single copy sequences that had been previously localised to chromosome 7 within the transgenomes. In this way a further four genetic markers were shown to be physically linked to met, and thus to CF. These probes may prove useful in confirming the order of loci around CF and in the prenatal diagnosis of this common autosomal recessive disease.

Isolation and regional mapping of random X sequences from distal human X chromosome

Chromosome-mediated gene transfer (CMGT) lines were shown to be convenient donors of genomic sequences from specific regions of the genome adjacent to selectable markers. Two libraries were prepared from CMGT lines carrying sequences spanning the long arm of the human X chromosome from HPRT (Xq26) to G6PD (Xq28). A series of 22 CMGT lines sharing the same selectable marker (HPRT) were used in conjunction with five standard translocation hybrids to provide fine-resolution regional mapping of the nonrepetitive X specific probes isolated from the libraries. The order of three human recombinant sequences with respect to known X-linked markers is: PGK (Xq13), 05-02 (DXS78); HPRT (Xq26), 07-03 (DXS79); surface antigen S11 (Xq27), 07-14 (DXS80); and G6PD (Xq28).

Cotransfer of syntenic human genes into mouse cells using isolated metaphase chromosomes or cellular DNA

Chromosome-mediated gene transfer (CMGT) of the human genes for hypoxanthine phosphoribosyl transferase (HPRT) and cytosol thymidine kinase (TK1) into HPRT deficient mouse A9 cells or TK deficient Swiss mouse 3T3TK- cells was found to occur at frequencies at least one order of magnitude higher than DNA-mediated gene transfer (DMGT). The frequency of CMGT into 3T3TK- cells was reduced by more than an order of magnitude by a posttreatment of the recipient cells with dimethyl sulphoxide (DMSO). After CMGT, expression of the non-selected genes coding for galactokinase (GALK) and acid alpha-glucosidase (GAA), both syntenic with TK1, was observed in a number of transformants. From the pattern of cotransfer, a tentative gene ordering of CENTROMERE-GALK-TK1-GAA on human chromosome 17 was deduced. Chromosome-mediated cotransfer of X-linked human phosphoglycerate kinase (PGK) with HPRT was observed in two out of 33 A9 transformants analysed. DNA-mediated cotransfer of a syntenic gene was only observed for GALK, cotransferred with TK1 in two out of 18 TK+ transformants of mouse LTK- cells. Therefore, with murine cells as recipients of human donor genetic material, CMGT results in a higher frequency of transfer and a higher incidence of cotransfer of syntenic genes than DMGT using cellular DNA in the same cell system.

Cotransfer and phenotypic stabilisation of syntenic and asyntenic mink genes into mouse cells by chromosome-mediated gene transfer

By means of metaphase chromosomes, the genes for mink thymidine kinase (TK) and hypoxanthine-phosphoribosyltransferase (HPRT) were transferred to mutant mouse cells, LMTK-, A9 (HPRT-) and teratocarcinoma cells, PCC4-aza 1 (HPRT-). Eighteen colonies were isolated from LMTK- (series A), 9 from A9 (series B) and none from PCC4-aza 1. The transformed clones contained mink TK or HPRT. Analysis of syntenic markers in series B demonstrated that one clone contained mink glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) and the other alpha-galactosidase; in series A, nine clones contained mink galactokinase (GALK) and six mink aldolase C (ALDC). Analysis of 12 asyntenic markers located in ten mink chromosomes showed the presence of only aconitase-1 (ACON1) (the marker of mink chromosome 12) in three clones of series A. The clones lost mink ACON1 between the fifth to tenth passages. Cytogenetic analysis established the presence of a fragment of mink chromosome 8 in eight clones of series A, but not in series B. The clones of series A lost mink TK together with mink GALK and ALDC during back-selection; in B, back-selection retained mink G6PD. No stable TK+ phenotype was detected in clones with a visible fragment of mink chromosome 8. Stability analysis demonstrated that about half of the clones of series B have stable HPRT+ phenotype whereas only three clones of series A have stable TK+ phenotype. It is suggested that the recipient cells, LMTK- and A9, differ in their competence for genetic transformation and integration of foreign genes.

Amplification of hypoxanthine-guanine phosphoribosyltransferase genes in chromosome-mediated gene transferents

Hypoxanthine-guanine phosphoribosyltransferase (HPRT) enzyme activities may be elevated in genetically unstable chromosome-mediated gene transferents selected for transfer of the HPRT gene. Increased levels of HPRT polypeptides in unstable mouse L cell gene transferents were demonstrated by two-dimensional gel electrophoresis and immunoprecipitation. No additional polypeptides were found to be overexpressed. HPRT mRNA levels were elevated 10- to 15-fold in the unstable gene transferent GT427C. Southern blot hybridization experiments showed that overexpression of HPRT correlated with a 5- to 15-fold amplification of HPRT gene sequences in two unstable cell lines. Stabilized gene transferents displayed reduced HPRT copy numbers. The amplification of HPRT gene sequences in the unstable transferent GT427C was associated with the presence of multiple minute chromosome fragments. An average of 9.6 fragments was found per metaphase, but the variation was considerable, ranging from 0 to 53. We conclude that genomic DNA sequences may be amplified in unstable chromosome-mediated gene transferents and that such amplification may be associated with the occurrence of multiple chromosomal fragments.

Amplification of hypoxanthine-guanine phosphoribosyltransferase genes in chromosome-mediated gene transferents

Hypoxanthine-guanine phosphoribosyltransferase (HPRT) enzyme activities may be elevated in genetically unstable chromosome-mediated gene transferents selected for transfer of the HPRT gene. Increased levels of HPRT polypeptides in unstable mouse L cell gene transferents were demonstrated by two-dimensional gel electrophoresis and immunoprecipitation. No additional polypeptides were found to be overexpressed. HPRT mRNA levels were elevated 10- to 15-fold in the unstable gene transferent GT427C. Southern blot hybridization experiments showed that overexpression of HPRT correlated with a 5- to 15-fold amplification of HPRT gene sequences in two unstable cell lines. Stabilized gene transferents displayed reduced HPRT copy numbers. The amplification of HPRT gene sequences in the unstable transferent GT427C was associated with the presence of multiple minute chromosome fragments. An average of 9.6 fragments was found per metaphase, but the variation was considerable, ranging from 0 to 53. We conclude that genomic DNA sequences may be amplified in unstable chromosome-mediated gene transferents and that such amplification may be associated with the occurrence of multiple chromosomal fragments.

Measurement of transcribed human X-chromosomal DNA sequences transferred to rodent cells by chromosome-mediated gene transfer

Transfer of genetic information can be effected by incubation of cultured eucaryotic cells with isolated metaphase chromosomes. In most cases, a resulting transformed cell contains only a fragment of a donor chromosome. The amount of transferred donor DNA has been quantified in 11 independent mouse A9 transformants by nucleic acid hybridization analysis. Each transformant had been selected for hprt (hypoxanthine phosphoribosyltransferase; EC 2.4.2.8) transfer and contained part of the human X chromosome. A labeled probe of transcribed human X-chromosomal DNA was prepared by hybridization of nick-translated unique-sequence human DNA with whole cellular RNA from a human-mouse hybrid cell line, A9/HRBC2-A, containing a single human chromosome., X. The amount of human X-chromosomal DNA in the transformants was quantitated by comparing the hybridization of this probe with transformant and A9/HRBC2-A DNAs. Two unstable transformants which had a microscopically detectable donor chromosome fragment contained 15% of the human X-chromosomal single-copy DNA. Four other unstable transformants contained 4 to 7% of human X-chromosomal DNA sequences. The transferred DNA was below the level of detection in three other unstable and in all three stable transformants. We conclude that the initial transfer event can introduce a substantial amount of genetic information but only smaller amounts of DNA are stably incorporated by integration.

Measurement of transcribed human X-chromosomal DNA sequences transferred to rodent cells by chromosome-mediated gene transfer

Transfer of genetic information can be effected by incubation of cultured eucaryotic cells with isolated metaphase chromosomes. In most cases, a resulting transformed cell contains only a fragment of a donor chromosome. The amount of transferred donor DNA has been quantified in 11 independent mouse A9 transformants by nucleic acid hybridization analysis. Each transformant had been selected for hprt (hypoxanthine phosphoribosyltransferase; EC 2.4.2.8) transfer and contained part of the human X chromosome. A labeled probe of transcribed human X-chromosomal DNA was prepared by hybridization of nick-translated unique-sequence human DNA with whole cellular RNA from a human-mouse hybrid cell line, A9/HRBC2-A, containing a single human chromosome., X. The amount of human X-chromosomal DNA in the transformants was quantitated by comparing the hybridization of this probe with transformant and A9/HRBC2-A DNAs. Two unstable transformants which had a microscopically detectable donor chromosome fragment contained 15% of the human X-chromosomal single-copy DNA. Four other unstable transformants contained 4 to 7% of human X-chromosomal DNA sequences. The transferred DNA was below the level of detection in three other unstable and in all three stable transformants. We conclude that the initial transfer event can introduce a substantial amount of genetic information but only smaller amounts of DNA are stably incorporated by integration.

DNA-mediated transfer of the mouse gene for hypoxanthine phosphoribosyltransferase into cultured mouse cells: no integration of the transferred gene at its homologous site in the host genome

An established Chinese hamster cell line was fused with microcells isolated from phenotypically stable transferent mouse cells which contained a mouse transgenome coding for an abnormal form of mouse hypoxanthine phosphoribosyltransferase (HPRT, EC. No. 2.4.2.8) (Willecke et al. 1979). Two hybrids were isolated which expressed the abnormal form of mouse HPRT but no mouse alpha-galactosidase (GALA, EC. No. 3.2.1.22). In one of these microcell hybrids the abnormal HPRT activity segregated under counter-selective conditions with mouse chromosome 3. No mouse chromosome or additional mouse gene marker was found in the second microcell hybrid, possibly because of breakage and/or rearrangement of the integrated transgenome during the isolation of this hybrid. We conclude from these results that the transferred mouse HPRT gene is a phenotypically stable clone is not integrated at its homologous site on the host X chromosome. Rather, the transgenome is probably integrated into mouse chromosome 3, possibly due to homologies in repeated DNA sequences which may occur in the transgenome and which are interspersed at many sites in the host genome.

Number and size of human X chromosome fragments transferred to mouse cells by chromosome-mediated gene transfer

Labeled probes of unique-sequence human X chromosomal deoxyribonucleic acid, prepared by two different procedures, were used to measure the amount of human X chromosomal deoxyribonucleic acid in 12 mouse cell lines expressing human hypoxanthine phosphoribosyltransferase after chromosome-mediated gene transfer. The amount of X chromosomal deoxyribonucleic acid detected by this procedure ranged from undetectable levels in the three stable transformants and some unstable transformants examined to about 20% of the human X chromosome in two unstable transformants. Reassociation kinetics of the X chromosomal probe with deoxyribonucleic acid from the two unstable transformants containing 15 to 20% of the human X chromosome indicate that a single copy of these sequences is present. In one of these lines, the X chromosomal sequences exist as multiple fragments which were not concordantly segregated when the cells were selected for loss of hprt.

Expression of the human argininosuccinate synthetase gene in hamster transferents

The structural gene for human argininosuccinate synthetase [L-citrulline:L-aspartate ligase (AMP-forming), EC 6.3.4.5] was transferred to argininosuccinate synthetase-deficient Chinese hamster cells via metaphase chromosomes isolated from human lymphoblast line MGL8D1, a constitutive overproducer of argininosuccinate synthetase, and from its repressible parent, MGL8B2. Argininosuccinate synthetase expression was selected for in citrulline-containing medium, and the human origin of the argininosuccinate synthetase expressed by seven transferents was identified by isoelectric focusing. Stable transferents expressing MGL8D1 argininosuccinate synthetase fell into two classes: (i) those whose argininosuccinate synthetase activity was reduced to 10-50% by arginine, similar to the repression of argininosuccinate synthetase synthesis observed in normal human lymphoblasts, and (ii) those that constitutively expressed argininosuccinate synthetase when grown in the presence of arginine or citrulline. Two transferents from the MGL8B2 donor constitutively expressed human arginonosuccinate synthetase. Three hamster revertants were isolated that constitutively expressed hamster argininosuccinate synthetase. Transferents and revertants exhibited growth-dependent changes in argininosuccinate synthetase activity, in contrast to the constant synthetase activity levels in donor lymphoblasts during growth. The isolation of stable transferents that constitutively or repressibly express argininosuccinate synthetase makes possible the analysis of regulatory signals influencing expression of the argininosuccinate synthetase gene.

Chromosome-mediated gene transfer results in two classes of unstable transformants

The human thymidine kinase gene has been transferred from HeLa S3 cells to mouse LM(TK-) cells via isolated metaphase chromosomes. Efficient transfer of the thymidine kinase gene (1.8 X 10(-5) colonies per recipient cell) was obtained when the donor chromosomes were precipitated with calcium phosphate and the recipient cells were treated with 10% (vol/vol) dimethyl sulfoxide. Thirty-five independent cell lines were analyzed in detail. Cytologically detectable donor chromosome fragments were observed in 14% of the cell lines. Many of the transformed cell lines were also found to express the human genes for galactokinase (23% of the transformed cell lines) and procollagen type I (69% of the transformed cell lines), which are syntenic to thymidine kinase on human chromosome 17. On the basis of stability analyses, three classes of transformed cell lines were defined and characterized. One class of transformants was stable, showing no loss of the transferred phenotype in the absence of selection. A second group of transformants was unstable, losing the thymidine kinase phenotype at a rate of 1.5-2.5% per day. This group of transformants was found to possess large donor chromosome fragments (macrotransgenomes) and relatively low levels of donor gene activity. The third group of transformants lost the thymidine kinase phenotype rapidly, at a rate of 6-10% per day. These cell lines contained small, cytologically undetectable transgenomes (microtransgenomes) and overexpressed the transferred thymidine kinase gene.

Parameters governing the transfer of the genes for thymidine kinase and dihydrofolate reductase into mouse cells using metaphase chromosomes or DNA

The conditions necessary to achieve high frequency transfer of the thymidine kinase and dihydrofolate reductase genes from hamster cells into mouse cells were investigated. Of the parameters examined, the length of adsorption time, input gene dosage, and treatment with dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO) were found to significantly alter the transfer frequency using either metaphase chromosomes or purified DNA as the transfer vehicle. With the mouse cell line as a recipient, the optimal adsorption period for DNA or chromosomes from MtxRIII cells was found to vary from 8 to 16 h in those experiments where the recipient cells were subsequently treated with DMSO. Without DMSO, similar frequencies could be obtained by extending the period of adsorption. Increasing the dosage of DNA or chromosomes resulted in an almost linear increase in the number of transformants. The optimal conditions for transfer did not significantly differ for the two genes studied. On the average, the optimal conditions yielded 1.5 x 10(3) transformants per 10(7) recipient cells with chromosomes; with DNA an average of only 60 transformants were observed. In general, DNA transformants grown in the absence of methotrexate were unstable; whereas, under the same conditions about 20% of the transformants from the chromosome experiments were stable.

Cotransfer of linked eukaryotic genes and efficient transfer of hypoxanthine phosphoribosyltransferase by DNA-mediated gene transfer

The efficiency of DNA-mediated transfer of the gene (hprt) for hypoxanthine phosphoribosyltransferase (HPRT; IMP: pyrophosphate phosphoribosyltransferase, EC 2.4.2.8) is dependent upon the recipient cell used. hprt has been transferred into mouse TG8 or Chinese hamster CHTG49 cells at a high frequency, similar to the frequency of the gene (tk) for thymidine kinase (TK; ATP:thymidine 5'-phosphotransferase, EC 2.7.1.21) transfer into mouse LMTK- cells (i.e., 10(-6)). In contrast, the frequency of transfer of hprt into mouse A9 cells was about two orders of magnitude less. The identification of efficient recipient cells for hprt transfer permits the use of DNA-mediated transfer as a bioassay for the gene. Cotransfer of the linked tk gene and the gene (galk) for galactokinase (ATP: D-galactose 1-phosphotransferase, EC 2.7.1.6) to LMTK- cells has been detected once among 87 tk transferrents. This suggests that the distance between the tk and galk genes in the Chinese hamster genome may be smaller than was previously thought. Significant differences between chromosome-mediated and DNA-mediated gene transfer were observed with respect to both the size of the transferred functional genetic fragment and the recipient cell specificity.

Gene transfer and gene mapping in mammalian cells in culture

The ability to transfer mammalian genes parasexually has opened new possibilities for gene mapping and fine structure mapping and offers great potential for contributing to several aspects of mammalian biology, including gene expression and genetic engineering. The DNA transferred has ranged from whole genomes to single genes and smaller segments of DNA. The transfer of whole genomes by cell fusion forms cell hybrids, which has promoted the extensive mapping of human and mouse genes. Transfer, by cell fusion, of rearranged chromosomes has contributed significantly to determining close linkage and the assignment of genes to specific chromosomal regions. Transfer of single chromosomes has been achieved utilizing microcells fused to recipient cells. Metaphase chromosomes have been isolated and used to transfer single-to-multigenic DNA segments. DNA-mediated gene transfer, simulating bacterial transformation, has achieved transfer of single-copy genes. By utilizing DNA cleaved with restriction endonucleases, gene transfer is being empolyed as a bioassay for the purification of genes. Gene mapping and the fate of transferred genes can be examined now at the molecular level using sequence-specific probles. Recently, single genes have been cloned into eucaryotic and procaryotic vectors for transfer into mammalian cells. Moreover, recombinant libraries in which entire mammalian genomes are represented collectively are a rich new source of transferable genes. Methodology for transferring mammalian genetic information and applications for mapping mammalian genes is presented and prospects for the future discussed.

Somatic cell genetic analysis of transgenome integration

The site of association of the human transgenome and host murine chromosomes was determined in several subclones of a stable human/mouse transformed cell line. Chromosomes were transferred from each of three transformed subclones into Chinese hamster recipient cells, and selection was applied for the expression of human transgenome-encoded HPRT. A series of trispecific microcell hybrids was isolated and characterized for each subclone. Evidence is presented that, within a given transformed subclone, only a single host (murine) chromosome was associated with the human transgenome. This contrasts with previous results which utilized a newly stabilized transformed cell line as the microcell donor and in which a variety of chromosomal sites of association existed. The results presented here support the view that the heterogeneity of transgenome association (integration) sites in newly stabilized transformants was due to the fact that these populations were multiclonal mixtures resulting from independent stabilization events. The initial heterogeneity in the population was subsequently reduced upon prolonged cultivation, as a subset of the original population became predominant.

Genetics of type II glycogenosis: assignment of the human gene for acid alpha-glucosidase to chromosome 17

We have studied somatic cell hybrids between thymidine kinase (EC 2.7.1.75) deficient mouse cells and human diploid fibroblasts for the expression of human acid alpha-glucosidase (EC 3.2.1.20). A deficiency in this enzyme is associated with the type II glycogenosis or Pompe disease. All 30 somatic cell hybrids selected in hypoxanthine/aminopterin/thymidine medium expressed human acid alpha-glucosidase and galactokinase (EC 2.7.1.6) and retained human chromosome 17; counterselection of the same hybrids in medium containing 5-bromodeoxyuridine resulted in the growth of hybrids that concordantly lost the expression of human acid alpha-glucosidase and galactokinase as well as human chromosome 17. Hybrids between thymidine kinase-deficient mouse cells and fibroblasts from a patient with Pompe disease that contained human chromosome 17 were found not to express human acid alpha-glucosidase. Because we have already shown that hybrids between mouse peritoneal macrophages and GM54VA simian virus 40-transformed human cells selectively retain human chromosome 17 and lose all other human chromosomes, we tested 13 independent mouse macrophage x GM54VA hybrid clones, including two that retained human chromosome 17 and no other human chromosomes, for the expression of human acid alpha-glucosidase and galactokinase. All 13 hybrid clones were found to express these human enzymes. Thus, we conclude that the gene coding for human acid alpha-glucosidase is located on human chromosome 17.

DNA-mediated transfer of the adenine phosphoribosyltransferase locus into mammalian cells

In this report, we demonstrate the feasibility of transforming mouse cells deficient in adenine phosphoribosyltransferase (aprt; AMP:pyrophosphate phosphoribosyltransferase, EC 2.4.2.7) to the aprt+ phenotype by means of DNA-mediated gene transfer. Transformation was effected by using unfractionated high molecular weight genomic DNA from Chinese hamster, human, and mouse cells and restriction endonuclease-digested DNA from rabbit liver. The transformation frequency observed was between 1 and 10 colonies per 10(6) cells per 20 microgram of donor DNA. Transformants displayed enzymatic activity that was donor derived as demonstrated by isoelectric focusing of cytoplasmic extracts. These transformants fall into two classes: those that are phenotypically stable when grown in the absence of selective pressure and those that are phenotypically unstable under the same conditions.

Assignment of the gene governing cellular ouabain resistance to Mus musculus chromosome 3 using human/mouse microcell hybrids

Human/mouse microcell hybrids were used to establish the assignment of the gene governing resistance to the cardiac glycoside ouabain (Oua-1) to Mus musculus chromosome 3. Microcells were prepared from primary mouse embryo fibroblasts and fused with HeLa S3 cells, and microcell hybrids were isolated and maintained in medium containing 10(-6) M ouabain. Resistance to ouabain was not expressed concordantly with any of 26 murine isozyme markers. Karyotypic analysis of five primary clones showed that one to five murine chromosomes had been transferred from donor to recipient in these experiments. Only mouse chromosome 3 was common to all ouabain-resistant primary clones. Both ouabain-resistant and -sensitive subclones were isolated from hybrids grown in the absence of selective pressure, and karyotyping showed that loss of resistance to ouabain was concordant with the loss of murine chromosome 3.

Genetic characterization of hydroxyurea-resistance in Chinese hamster ovary cells

Hydroxyurea is an excellent selective agent for obtaining drug-resistant mutants. At a frequency of approximately 1 X 10(-5) it was possible to select, in a single step, colonies that exhibited significant resistance to the cytotoxic effects of the drug. These hydroxyurea-resistant cell lines maintained their resistant phenotype after extensive cultivation in the absence of the drug. Reconstruction experiments indicated that the expression of hydroxyurea-resistance and the frequency of drug-resistant colonies was independent of cell densities up to 5 X 10(5) cells per 100-mm selection plate. Luria-Delbrück fluctuation analyses indicated that the appearance of hydroxyurea-resistant cells in wild type populations occurred spontaneously and at a rate of 4.8 X 10(-6) per cell per generation in the presence of 0.33 mM drug. Studies with the mutagen, ethyl methane sulfonate indicated that it was capable of increasing the frequency of hydroxyurea-resistant cells by a factor of approximately 10. Also, cell-cell hybridization experiments showed that hydroxyurea-resistance behaves as a dominant or codominant trait and that hydroxyurea-resistance was a useful new genetic marker for selection of somatic cell hybrids. Furthermore, similar to many other drug-resistant cell lines hydroxyurea-resistant cells were found to exhibit an altered sensitivity to a number of non-selective agents (guanazole, N-carbamoyloxyurea, formamidoxime, and hydroxyurethane). Except for guanazole these compounds are structurally very similar to hydroxyurea and may be expected to have similar modes of action. The results presented in this paper support the view that hydroxyurea-resistance is expressed as a normal genetic trait and is a useful genetic marker for somatic cell genetic studies.

Co-transfer of human X-linked markers into murine somatic cells via isolated metaphase chromosomes

Transformation frequencies of 4 x 10(-5) were obtained in chromosome-mediated gene transfer experiments using human cell line HeLa S3 as donor and mouse cell line A9 as recipient. This high frequency of interspecific transformation was achieved by treating the recipient cells with dimethylsulfoxide in addition to other facilitators. The high frequency of transformation correlated positively with transgenome size on the basis of both co-transfer of linked markers and chromosome analysis. The syntenic human markers glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (D-glucose-6-phosphate:NADP(+) 1-oxidoreductase, EC 1.1.1.49) and phosphoglycerate kinase (ATP:3-phospho-D-glycerate 1-phosphotransferase, EC 2.7.2.3) were sometimes transferred together with the selected X-linked prototrophic marker hypoxanthine phosphoribosyltransferase (IMP: pyrophosphate phosphoribosyltransferase, EC 2.4.2.8) into murine somatic cells. Donor human chromosome material could be demonstrated cytologically in some of the transformed cell lines. Transformants exhibited various rates of loss of the human hypoxanthine phosphoribosyltransferase marker when grown under nonselective conditions. These results reveal a broader range of possible interspecific transgenome sizes than has been recognized in the past. The largest transgenomes consist of cytologically detectable donor fragments and contain syntenic markers that are not closely linked to the selected marker.

Transfer of genetic information via isolated amphibian metaphase chromosomes

The metaphase chromosome transfer system of McBride and Ozer (1973) has been adapted to a haploid, euploid, frog cell line. Genes coding for a deoxypyrimidine kinase and an enzyme responsible for a thymidine-specific saturable transport system have each been transferred at frequencies between 10(-6) and 10(-5) transferents per cell treated. Revertants for each of these two genes were observed at frequencies between 10(-8) and 10(-7) revertants per cell tested. Selfing controls showed no transferents. Two colonies were obtained in which cotransfer of both genes may have occurred. Activities of the transferred genes were assayed by incorporation of [3H]thymidine into alkali-stable, acid-precipitable material. Growth properties of 13 transferents in various media were also determined and presence of the appropriate enzymes inferred. These transferents were tested for stability early (25 generations) after transfer and were found to be stable. All 13 transferents possess the normal haploid number of chromosomes (n = 13) with no cytologically detectable chromosomal fragments.

Transfection of Enterobacteriaceae and its applications

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Cotransfer of thymidine kinase and galactokinase genes by chromosome-mediated gene transfer

The Chinese hamster genes for thymidine kinase (ATP:thymidine 5'-phosphotransferase, EC 2.7.1.75) and galactokinase (ATP:D-galactose 1-phosphotransferase, EC 2.7.1.6) have been cotransferred to mouse cells by chromosome-mediated gene transfer. Hamster metaphase chromosomes were incubated with mouse B82 cells and 22 independent colonies were isolated in a selective medium. All of the 12 colonies analyzed expressed the donor form of thymidine kinase; the hamster form of galactokinase was also expressed in 2 of these colonies, indicating cotransfer with a frequency of about 20%. There was coordinate loss of both transferred genes from each colony when selection was applied for the loss of thymidine kinase alone. Comparison of the regional localization of these two linked genes with the frequency of cotransfer suggests that the transgenome is probably not larger than about 0.25% of the donor genome.

Adenosine kinase as a new selective marker in somatic cell genetics: isolation of adenosine kinase--deficient mouse cell lines and human--mouse hybrid cell lines containing adenosine kinase

A new selective system for isolating somatic cell hybrids, using adenosine kinase as the selective marker, has been developed. The selective medium for forward selection (to select for cells containing adenosine kinase) contains alanosine, adenosine and uridine. To survive in the presence of alanosine, cells must have adenosine kinase in order to utilize exogenous adenosine as the sole source of AMP. Uridine is added to the selective medium to prevent the toxic effects of adenosine on cultured mammalian cells. The selective medium for reverse selection (to select for cells lacking adenosine kinase) contains 2-fluoroadenosine, an analogue of adenosine, which is converted to a toxic nucleotide by the action of adenosine kinase. Mouse mutant cell lines deficient in adenosine kinase have been derived. Human--mouse hybrid cells containing the kinase have been prepared from one of these mutant lines. Karyotype data of these hygrid lines and their adenosine kinase-minus sublines are consistent with assignment by others of the human gene for adenosine kinase on chromosome 10.

Uptake and early fate of metaphase chromosomes ingested by the Wi-L2 human lymphoid cell line

Aspects of the ingestion and early intracellular fate of homologous. [3H]-thymidine-labeled chromosomes (donor) were studied in recipient Wi-L2 cells in the absence of reutilized radioactivity. As much as 67% of the cell-associated radioactivity was resistant to hydrolysis by DNase I after 4 h of incubation. Cell fractionation and electron microscope autoradiography indicated that chromosome uptake was rapid, into both cytoplasmic and nuclear fractions and was facilitator and dose dependent. Sedimentation analysis demonstrated that at 4 h donor DNA of approximate single-strand mol wt of 1--6 X 10(6), as compared to 6--12 X 10(6) for chromosomal DNA, was recoverable in cell fractions. By 6 h, a significant portion of the nucleus-associated donor DNA was converted into material of higher mol wt, although no evidence was found for integration into recipient DNA. Cytoplasmic donor DNA continued to be degraded. An average number of chromosome equivalents of nucleus-associated donor DNA to recipient cell nuclei of 1--4 was obtained and its relationship to the lower frequency of chromosome-mediated gene transfer is discussed.

Stable association of the human transgenome and host murine chromosomes demonstrated with trispecific microcell hybrids

Trispecific microcell hybrids were prepared by transferring limited numbers of chromosomes from a human/mouse gene-transfer cell line to a Chinese hamster recipient line. The donor cells employed were murine L-cells that stably expressed the human form of the enzyme hypoxanthine phosphoribosyltransferase. Karyotypic, zymographic, and back-selection tests of the resulting human/mouse/Chinese hamster microcell hybrids provided strong genetic evidence for a stable association of the human transgenome with host murine chromosomes in stable gene-transfer cell lines. This association, which may represent physical integration of the transgenome into the host cell genome, occurred at multiple chromosomal sites.

Overexpression of an unstably inherited gene in cultured mouse cells

The specific activity of hypoxanthine-guanine phosphoribosyltransferase (IMP:pyrophosphate phosphoribosyltransferase, EC 2.4.2.8) is increased up to 58-fold in unstable gene transferents produced by the transfer of cell-free chromosomal material from one mouse L cell line to another; the specific activity of this enzyme returns to normal levels when the transferred gene becomes stabilized. This phenomenon, which is not observed in comparable heterospecific transfers, may be an effect of gene dosage (multiple copies of the transferred genetic fragment in the unstable gene transferents), or it may represent an escape of the unstably inherited gene from the normal regulatory mechanisms of the recipient cell.

Transfer of codominant markers by isolated metaphase chromosomes in Chinese hamster ovary cells

Codominant mutations to methotrexate and ouabain resistance in Chinese hamster ovary cells can be transferred to recipient Chinese hamster ovary cells by isolated metaphase chromosomes. For methotrexate, both the structural change and the increased activity of dihydrofolate reductase (5,6,7,8-tetrahydrofolate:NADP+ oxidoreductase EC 1.5.1.3), characteristic of the donor cells, are observed in the transferents (cells that carry and express functions derived by chromosome transfer). The transferents are unstable in the absence of selection although stable clones can be isolated. From results obtained by fractionation of chromosomes and transfer to recipients, the methotrexate and ouabain markers can be assigned to the middle and large size-classes of chromosomes, respectively. By fractionation and transfer of chromosomes, from transferents to new recipients, evidence has been obtained that chromosome integration is not restricted to a particular chromosomal site in the recipient.

Serial transfer of a human gene to rodent cells by sequential chromosome-mediated gene transfer

The human hypoxanthine phosphoribosyl-transferase (IMP:pyrophosphate phosphoribosyltransferase, EC 2.4.2.8) gene (hprt) has been serially transferred to mouse cells and then to Chinese hamster fibroblasts by two cycles of metaphase chromosome isolation and incubation with recipient cells. Human metaphase chromosomes were incubated with mouse A9 cells deficient in hypoxanthine phosphoribosyltransferase, and independent colonies expressing the human species form of this gene were isolated in a selective medium. Metaphase chromosomes isolated from two of these clonal lines were incubated with Chinese hamster fibroblasts deficient in hypoxanthine phosphoribosyltransferase; five resulting independent colonies again expressed the human species of this gene. The transfer frequencies in the two cycles of chromosome-mediated gene transfer were similar (about 10(-7)). These results indicate that the transferred human chromosome fragment is closely associated with the chromosomes of the mouse A9 cells and it is probably integrated into the chromosomal DNA of the recipient cell.

Transfer of the human genes coding for thymidine kinase and galactokinase to Chinese hamster cells and human-Chinese hamster cell hybrids

Cotransfer of two linked human genes, coding for the enzymes thymidine kinase (TK) and galactokinase (Gak) was demonstrated following incubation of Chinese hamster TK-deficient cells with isolated human chromosomes. The 5 colonies which were isolated all expressed a stable TK-positive phenotype. Cotransfer of the human genes coding for TK and Gak has also been observed in experiments in which isolated human chromosomes were incubated with TK-deficient human-Chinese hamster cell hybrids. These receipient hybrids had lost all human chromosomes at the time of incubation. From these experiments, four colonies were isolated, all expressing an unstable TK-positive phenotype. Using chromosome staining techniques, the presence of human chromosomes could not be demonstrated in either of the transformed clonal lines obtained with the Chinese hamster and the hybrid recipient cells. This indicates that incorporation of only the fragment of the human chromosome 17, bearing the genes for TK and Gak, has occurred in the recipient cells.

Human mitochondrial thymidine kinase is coded for by a gene on chromosome 16 of the nucleus

The expression of human mitochondrial thymidine kinase (mt TK) was investigated by polyacrylamide electrophoresis in 19 independent human-mouse somatic cell hybrids which allowed all human chromosomes to be analyzed. In 8 hybrid clones the presence of this enzymatic activity could be demonstrated. Human mt TK segregated concordantly with human adenine phosphoribosyltransferase (APRT) and human chromosome 16. Discordant segregation with all other human chromosomes was demonstrated by karyotype and isozyme analyses. These results suggest that human mt TK is coded for by a gene on chromosome 16 of the nucleus. Thus human mt TK is genetically different from human cytosol thymidine kinase which is coded for by a gene on chromosome 17. The appearance of one heteropolymer band after electrophoretic separation of human and murine mt TK supports the notion that both enzymes have dimeric structures.

Comparative mapping using somatic cell hybrids

Comparative mapping, or ascertaining the gene linkage relationships between different species, is rapidly developing. This is possible because new techniques in chromosome identification and somatic cell hybridization, such as the generation of hybrids preferentially segregating chromosomes of any desired species including rodents, and the development of gene transfer techniques have yielded new information about the human and rodent gene maps. In addition, the discovery and characterization of mouse subspecies has generated new mouse sexual genetic linkage data. The following picture is emerging. Several X-linked genes in man are X-linked in all mammalian species tested. The linkage relationships of several tightly linked genes, less than 1 map unit apart, are also conserved in all mammalian species tested. Ape autosomal genes are assigned to ape chromosomes homologous to their human counterparts indicating extensive conservation in the 12 million years (MYR) of evolution from apes to man. Similarly, mouse and rat, 10 MYR apart in evolution, have several large autosomal synteny groups conserved. In comparing the mouse and human gene maps we find that human genes assigned to different arms of the same human chromosome are unlinked in the mouse; mouse genes large map distances (20 to 45 cM) apart are very likely to be unlinked in the human. However, several autosomal synteny groups 10 to 20 cM apart, including the Pgd, Eno-1, Pgm-1 group on human chromosome arm 1p, are conserved in mice and man. This suggests that homology mapping, the superimposition of one species gene map on the homologous conserved portion of another species genome may be possible, and that ancestral autosomal synteny groups should be detectable.

Genetic analysis by chromosome-mediated gene transfer

A general method is presented for stable transfer of genetic information to eukaryotic cells, utilizing metaphase chromosomes as the vehicle. Recent progress, current problems and large areas of uncertainty in this field are reviewed; particular consideration is given to frequency of transfer, size of the transgenome, evidence of cotransfer of linked genes and serial chromosome transfer. A reasonable model for chromosome transfer is considered with respect to the available information, and various descrepancies are noted. The utility of this method for fine structural mapping, cloning small regions of the eukaryotic genome and other potential applications are discussed.

Chromosome-mediated gene transfer between closely realted strains of cultured mouse cells

Gene transfer between two closely related mouse cell lines has been carried out, using as the vector a cell-free preparation of metaphase chromosomes and nuclei. Distinction between gene transferents and revertants of the recipient mutant phenotype was achieved by the use of a donor strain carrying a mutationally altered (8-azaguanine-resistant) hypoxanthine-guanine phosphoribosyltransferase (HPRTase; IMP:pyrophosphate phosphoribosyltransferase, EC 2.4.2.8). The transferred HPRTase gene is initially unstable; in nonselective medium, it is lost at a rate of about 0.1 per cell per generation. Stabilization occurs as a rare event, with a frequency on the order of 1 X 10(-5) per cell per generation. The unstable state can be maintained for at least 200 generations through serial passages of the transferent in selective medium. Under the conditions of cultivation used in these experiments, the unstable HPRTase-positive cells are eventually replaced by the stable HPRTase-positive cells in the population.