Incorporation of isolated HeLa-S3 metaphase chromosomes into cultured mouse embryo cells

Construction of transferrin-coated liposomes for in vivo transport of exogenous DNA to bone marrow erythroblasts in rabbits

A method for coating liposomes with transferrin is described. Such liposomes have been used for carrying exogenous DNA to rabbit bone marrow (BM) precursor cells, in vivo. A large amount of the DNA contained in the liposomes was delivered specifically into the erythroblasts of the test animals.

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.

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.

Two-step chromosomal control of tumorigenicity of Chinese hamster cells in nude mice

A simple method for microinjecting isolated chromosomes into a single living cell under an inverted microscope has been developed. Of the 368 injected cells, 85 were able to form a colony and could be cloned. Clones of Chinese hamster V79 cells microinjected with chromosomes isolated from murine D56 cells [V79 (D56) cells] were tested for tumorigenicity in immunodeficient nude mice and for colony-forming ability in soft agar. Untreated recipient V79 cells were highly tumorigenic and had a high colony-forming ability in soft agar. In contrast, two out of the 21 microinjected clones tested were non-tumorigenic in nude mice and had only weak colony-forming ability in soft agar. The chromosome banding pattern was analyzed in microinjected clones and tumors derived from cells of these clones. In cells of the two non-tumorigenic clones, a telocentric chhromosome 1 (t1) was specifically involved in translocations with other chromosomes or chromosome fragments. In all tumor cells obtained from nude mice, a supernumerary piece or a whole biarmed chromosome 14 (b14) was specifically found. The results suggest that the t1 chromosome bears the gene which controls in vitro transformation and that the additional genetic change, i.e. the extra piece of b14 chromosome, was required for tumor formation in vivo.

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.

Transfer of genetic information by purified metaphase chromosomes

Transfer of genetic information from isolated mammalian chromosomes to recipient cells has been demonstrated. Metaphase chromosomes isolated from Chinese hamster fibroblasts were incubated with mouse A(9) cells containing a mutation at the hypoxanthine-guanine phosphoribosyl transferase (hprt) locus. Cells were plated in a selective medium, resulting in death of all unaltered parental A(9) cells. However, colonies of cells containing hypoxanthine phosphoribosyl transferase (EC 2.4.2.8) appeared with a variable frequency of about 10(-6) to 10(-7). The enzyme from these cells was indistinguishable from that from Chinese hamster cells, as shown by DEAE-cellulose chromatography and gel electrophoresis, and differed clearly from the mouse enzyme. The colonies, thus, did not result from reversion of A(9) parental cells to wild type, but appeared to represent progeny of individual cells that had ingested chromosomes, replicated, and expressed the hprt gene. These colonies differed from each other in stability of expression of the transferred gene.