Mutants of the Chinese hamster ovary cell line requiring alanine and glutamate

Assignment of the human MARS gene, encoding methioninyl-tRNA synthetase, to chromosome 12 using human X Chinese hamster cell hybrids

We have isolated interspecific somatic cell hybrids between a temperature-sensitive Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cell methioninyl -tRNA synthetase mutant and human peripheral leukocytes. The hybrids were selected at 39 degrees C which requires the retention and expression of the human gene, MARS , which complements the defective CHO gene. In vitro heat-inactivation experiments on the methioninyl -tRNA synthetase activity in cell-free extracts from heat-resistant hybrids indicate that the human form of this enzyme and, therefore, the human MARS gene is present in hybrid cells. Cytogenetic analysis of three independent temperature-resistant hybrids revealed the presence of a single human chromosome, number 12. Two other independent hybrids examined contained human chromosome 12 as well as a second human chromosome. Electrophoretic analysis of extracts from hybrid cell lines for a human chromosome 12 marker isozyme, LDH-B, showed a pattern of heterotetrameric bands consistent with the presence of the human form of this enzyme in these cells. The correlation between the presence of the human form of methioninyl -tRNA synthetase and human chromosome 12 in temperature-resistant hybrids indicates that the human MARS locus is located on this chromosome.

Isolation and characterization of a Chinese hamster lung cell tryptophanyl-tRNA synthetase mutant

A novel type of temperature-sensitive protein synthetic mutant was isolated from V-79 Chinese hamster lung cells using an amino acid analog suicide selection. The expression of the temperature sensitive phenotype of the mutant is greatly affected by the concentration of tryptophan in the culture medium. In addition, the activity of tryptophanyl-tRNA synthetase is undetectable in cell-free extracts prepared from the mutant cells. The results suggest that the mutant has an alteration in the structural gene encoding tryptophanyl-tRNA synthetase.

Isolation and characterization of interspecific heat-resistant hybrids between a temperature-sensitive chinese hamster cell asparaginyl-tRNA synthetase mutant and normal human leukocytes: assignment of human asnS gene to chromosome 18

We isolated interspecific somatic cell hybrids between human peripheral leukocytes and a temperature-sensitive CHO cell line with a thermolabile asparaginyl-tRNA synthetase. The hybrids were selected at 39 degrees C so as to require the expression of the human gene complementing the deficient CHO enzyme. In vitro heat-inactivation profiles of cell-free extracts from temperature-resistant hybrid cells indicate the presence of two forms of asparaginyl-tRNA synthetase. One form is very resistant to thermal inactivation, like the normal human enzyme, while the other form is very thermolabile, like the altered enzyme from the CHO parent. Hybrids and temperature-sensitive segregants derived from them were analyzed for the expression of known human chromosomal marker enzymes. The strong correlation between the expression of the human form of asparaginyl-tRNA synthetase and the presence of human chromosome 18 in hybrids suggests that the human gene, asnS, which corrects the heat-sensitive phenotype of the CHO asparaginyl-tRNA synthetase mutant, is located on chromosome 18.

The effect of amino acids on the temperature sensitive phenotype of the mammalian leucyl-tRNA synthetase mutant tsHl and its revertants

The temperature sensitive leucyl-tRNA synthetase mutant tsHl and two revertants have been compared to the parental Chinese hamster ovary cells with respect to the effects of amino acid concentrations in the medium on growth. Elevating the leucine concentration 30- or 100-fold allowed tsHl to grow exponentially at 38.5 degrees C, normally the nonpermissive temperature. Partial revertants that had recovered some enzyme activity required smaller supplements for growth. Measurements of the leucine pools indicated that they respond directly to the extracellular leucine concentration and may mediate the effect. Use of combinations of amino acids confirmed that isoleucine has a similar though weaker effect on tsHl and identified an even weaker protection by valine. The triple combination of leucine, isoleucine and valine was a much more efficient medium supplement and three times normal concentrations of these amino acids supported growth of tsHl at 38.5 degrees C. It is postulated that they are acting at their respective aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases to help stabilize a complex which also contains the mutant leucyl-tRNA synthetase. The pool size measurements also showed that the leucine pools of tsHl and a revertant increased 2-fold more in a response to increased temperature than those of WT. It is suggested that this is a regulatory response to low leucyl-tRNA synthetase activity and is important in determining growth phenotypes.

Isolation and characterization of revertants of the mammalian temperature sensitive leucyl-tRNA synthetase mutant tsHl

Nine spontaneous and seven ethyl methanesulfonate induced revertants of the Chinese hamster ovary cell line mutant (tsHl), which possesses a temperature sensitive leucyl-tRNA synthetase, were isolated and characterized with respect to growth rate, leucyl-tRNA synthetase activity and thermolability, intracellular leucine pool size, and rRNA content. Although most revertants had increased leucyl-tRNA synthetase activity, and of those tested, all but one had increased thermostability, each appears to be unique. One revertant may be an intergenic suppressor since it appears to contain an elevated level of tsHl-like synthetase. There was no evidence for any of the revertants having increased rRNA and tRNA contents, however, many showed leucine pools two to three times larger than wild type cells. Since similar increases have been observed in tsHl cells they are believed to result from regulation of leucine pool size by the leucyl-tRNA synthetase and are of a magnitude sufficient to affect significantly the growth of revertants at 38.5 degrees C.

Evidence for structural gene alterations affecting aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases in CHO cell mutants and revertants

Aminoacyl-tRNA synthetase (aaRS) activities in extracts of mutant strains of the Chinese hamster ovary line (CHO) were examined for alterations in thermal stability. Mutants having low activity for MetRS, AsnRS, or GlnRS contained aaRSs that were inactivated much more rapidly upon heating than those from wild-type cells. Revertant lines, isolated from cultures of these mutants (Asn-5, Met-2, and Gln-2) after treatment with nitrosoguanidine or ethyl methanesulfonate, had thermolabilities intermediate between mutant and wild-type, and consistently had higher activities than the mutants. With a modified in vivo aminoacylation procedure, two previously exceptional mutants. Arg-1 and His-1, showed pronounced reductions in the amount of arginyl-tRNA or histidyl-tRNA, respectively, under restrictive conditions, compared to wild type. Revertants of Arg-1 (like the mutant itself) had no measurable ArgRS in vitro activity (less than 0.4% of wild type) although in vivo aminoacylation in the one revertant tested was partially restored. These data provide evidence that the forward mutations have occurred in the structural genes of the aaRSs and that most of the reversions are probably the result of second-site point mutations in the aaRS genes.

Mutations in the structural genes of CHO cell histidyl-, valyl-, and leucyl-tRNA synthetases

Forty-three temperature-sensitive mutants were isolated in the CHO cell line by selecting for noncycling cells using [3H]TdR and cytosine arabinoside. Cell division was extremely temperature sensitive in eight of the mutants, and these were studied in more detail. In seven of these eight mutants, the in vitro specific activity of a single aminoacyl-tRNA synthetase was greatly reduced; four had reduced levels of histidyl-tRNA synthetase, two of valyl-tRNA synthetase, and one of leucyl-tRNA synthetase. Cell hybridization studies showed that the mutants formed three complementation groups. In six of the seven mutants the aminoacyl-tRNA synthetase which had reduced activity was also more thermolabile than the wild-type enzyme. The spontaneous reversion frequency was low for these mutants, and in most cases could be increased by treatment with a chemical mutagen. The isolation of the valyl-tRNA synthetase mutant reported here brings to eight the number of different aminoacyl-tRNA synthetase mutants isolated in the CHO cell line.

Six complementation classes of conditionally lethal protein synthesis mutants of CHO cells selected by 3H-amino acid

Using a tritiated amino acid suicide procedure designed specifically to select conditional protein synthesis mutants, we have isolated and characterized a large number of such mutants of Chinese hamster ovary cells. All of the mutants are genetically stable and behave as recessives in somatic cell hybrids. Most of the new mutants are phenotypically dependent on the concentration of a specific amino acid as well as on temperature. In addition to identifying many additional leucyl- and asparagyl-tRNA synthetase mutants, complementation analysis has distinguished four new genetic classes representing methionine-, glutamine-, histidine-, and arginine-dependent mutants. Biochemical characterization of representative mutants from each of these six classes has identified the primary lesions as being defective aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases. Our selection results further demonstrate the high specificity of the 3H-amino acid procedure for isolating protein synthesis mutants. Reconstruction experiments performed with two representative mutants indicated a selection efficiency of approximately 10% under standard conditions.