Separation of HeLa cells by colloidal silica density gradient centrifugation. I. Separation and partial synchrony of mitotic cells

Using a colloidal silica density gradient, HeLa cells in mitosis were found to have a density of 1.040-1.046 g/cc, lighter than the remaining interphase cells. The mitotic cells could be harvested and cultured after centrifugation, showing growth synchrony by measurement of a peak in mitotic index 21 hr after establishing the culture. By using Colcemid or vinblastine sulfate, HeLa cells were arrested in metaphase and centrifuged on the colloidal silica density gradient. The blocked metaphase cells were lighter in density than the interphase cells but somewhat more dense than untreated cells selected by the density gradient centrifugation. Near-equilibrium conditions were established during the centrifugation of cells so that cell density measurements could be made, and the gradient medium employed was not measurably toxic to those cells tested.

Regeneration of cation-transport capacity in HeLa cell membranes after specific blockade by ouabain

The cardiac glycoside, ouabain, inhibits alkali-cation transport in HeLa cells. It binds to 0.75 x 10(6) sites per cell, and the half-time for its dissociation is 16 hr. After partial blockade by ouabain, the cell generates new ouabain-binding sites, with total restoration of transport in 10% of a cell cycle( approximately 3 hr). This recovery requires protein synthesis and appears to be a response to altered cell-electrolyte content, since growth of cells in media with low K(+) concentration enhances the titer of the transport enzyme in a fashion similar to the effect of ouabain. Totally blocked cells do not recover.

Effect of prolonged ouabain treatment of Na, K, Cl and Ca concentration and fluxes in cultured human cells

1. Girardi and Hela cells (derived from human heart and cervix respectively) were grown as monolayer cultures in B.M.E. (Eagles basal medium) containing concentrations of ouabain up to 5 x 10(-8)M for periods ranging up to 5 days. The cell sizes, numbers, Na, K, Cl, and Ca concentrations and fluxes were then measured.2. Twenty-four hours incubation in ouabain concentrations equal to or less than 5 x 10(-8)M caused a rise in [Na](i) and an almost equal fall in [K](i) to new steady levels. The concentrations so reached were linearly related to the ouabain concentrations, such that in 5 x 10(-8)M ouabain [Na](i) rose to 124 m-mole/l. intracellular water and [K](i) fell to 55 m-mole/l. i.c. water in Girardi cells. In Hela cells the changes were smaller at any particular ouabain concentration. These levels were maintained constant for at least 5 days.3. In cells in the logarithmic phase of growth, raising [Na](i) and lowering [K](i) by ouabain caused a slowing of growth rate proportional to the ouabain concentration used. In cells in the stationary phase there was no change in the cell numbers over 24 hr. The volume of the cells was not directly affected by the treatment.4. Reducing [K](o) from the normal value of 5.4 to 2.5 mM increased the effect of any ouabain concentration, whereas increasing [K](o) to 7.5 decreased the effect of ouabain.5. Reduction of [K](o) to 2.5 mM had no effect on the [K](i) or [Na](i) but halved the cell numbers, probably by a reduction in the growth rate. The mechanism of this effect is obscure.6. In Girardi cells raising [Na](i) and lowering [K](i) by prolonged treatment increases the total Na fluxes and decreases the total K fluxes but keeps the total Na + K flux constant. High-Na, low-K cells had a reduced Na:K exchange compared to fresh cells and also had a Na:K pumped ratio nearer 4:1 than the 3:2 normally found.7. These cells also show ouabain-sensitive and ouabain-insensitive Na:Na exchanges. In high-Na, low-K cells the ouabain sensitive Na:Na exchange is the same as in fresh cells. The effect of treatment on the ouabain insensitive Na:Na exchanges has not been elucidated.8. The Cl content and fluxes are not altered by prolonged ouabain treatment. From this it is inferred that the membrane potential in high-Na, low-K cells is the same as in normal cells.9. High-Na, low-K cells have the same calcium content and fluxes as fresh cells. From this it is concluded that there is no Na:Ca coupling in these cells.

Respiratory enzymes and mitochondrial morphology of HeLa and L cells treated with chloramphenicol and ethidium bromide

Exposure of HeLa and L cells to chloramphenicol causes a progressive dose-dependent decrease in cytochrome oxidase and succinate-cytochrome c reductase activities, concomitant with an increase in the amount of cytochrome c. At 2-3 days, the specific activities of the enzymes have fallen to about one-half of control values; the mitochondria appear swollen. By day 5, enzyme activities are about one-quarter of control values; the mitochondria are more swollen, with disorientation and disintegration of cristae. By day 6-8, after three generations, growth has stopped, enzyme activities are approximately the same as on day 5, and cytochrome c content has reached 170% of control value. Mitochondria show severe changes, cristae being affected more than peripheral inner membrane. The number of profiles continues to be nearly normal. After 30 days, cytochrome oxidase activity remains low but now there are mitochondria in intermediate and condensed configuration. There is a gradual accumulation in the cytoplasm of smooth membrane elements. If chloramphenicol is removed, cells recover. Ethidium bromide treatment for up to 8 days yields results virtually identical to those obtained with chloramphenicol. Cells treated with 10(-4)M KCN show a decrease in cytochrome oxidase activity to about one-third of control value and an elevated amount of cytochrome c. Only a small number of mitochondria appear damaged. Autochthonous mitochondrial syntheses appear to be essential for the organization of the cristae. When cytochrome oxidase activity is impaired, a regulatory mechanism for cytochrome biosynthesis geared to mitochondrial function may be lacking, resulting in an increase in cytochrome c content.

Nature of transient inhibition of deoxyribonucleic acid synthesis in HeLa cells by parainfluenza virus 1 (Sendai)

Adsorption of ultraviolet-inactivated Sendai virus, at high or low multiplicity, to HeLa cells caused a transient increased incorporation of (3)H-thymidine into the cellular deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA). In HeLa cells synchronized by a double-thymidine block, this increased incorporation of thymidine during the S phase lasted from about 30 to 90 min after virus adsorption. The observations that the kinetics of accumulation of radioactive thymidine in the nucleotide pool did not differ in control and in the virus-treated cells and that the (32)P incorporation into the DNA of the virus-treated cells was inhibited at the same time indicate that the augmented incorporation of (3)H-thymidine into DNA results from a transient block in the endogenous pathway of thymidine synthesis. Chromatographic analysis of the nucleotide pool of the virus-treated cells labeled with (14)C-formate indicates that methylation of deoxyuridine monophosphate to thymidine monophosphate is inhibited. It is suggested that the inhibition is caused by a block of either the thymidilate synthetase or some step in the tetrahydrofolate cycle.

Automated continuous culture of mammalian cells in suspension

A system has been developed for the continuous culture of mammalian cells in suspension. The system maintains constant cell concentrations (monitored as the degree of light scattering) over a wide range of previously selected values by automatic additions of known amounts of medium and simultaneous withdrawals of equal volumes of cell suspension.

Absence of translational control of histone synthesis during the HeLa cell life cycle

The cell-free synthesis of histone-like polypeptides has been achieved using a selected class of small polyribosomes as the only particulate fraction. This synthesis is prevented if the deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) inhibitor, cytosine arabinoside, is added to the cells prior to disruption, and it is not detected when the cytoplasm used is derived from postmitotic (G(1)) cells. When the 100,000 g supernate from pure metaphase populations was compared with that from S phase cells, the cell-free synthesis of histone-like polypeptides in the presence of S phase polyribosomes remained unchanged. These data suggest that, except for the histone messenger RNA-ribosome complex, the cytoplasmic factors requisite for histone synthesis are present throughout the cycle, and that the shut-off of this synthesis is not under translational control.