Influence of feeder layer type on the efficiency of isolation of porcine embryo-derived cell lines

Experiments were conducted to determine the effects of feeder layers composed of different cell types on the efficiency of isolation and the behavior of porcine embryo-derived cell lines. Inner cell masses (ICM) isolated from 7- to 8-d-old embryos were plated on feeder layers composed of Buffalo rat liver cells (BRL), a continuous cell line of murine embryonic fibroblasts (STO), STO combined with BRL at a 9:1 and 1:1 ratio, STO with BRL-conditioned medium (STO + CM), porcine embryonic fibroblasts (PEF), PEF combined with BRL at a 9:1 and 1:1 ratio, porcine uterine epithelial cells (PUE), murine embryonic fibroblasts (MEF), or an epithelial-like porcine embryo-derived cell line (PH3A). It was found that embryo-derived cell lines could be isolated only from the STO and the STO with BRL-conditioned medium treatments. The isolated cell lines were of epithelial-like and embryonic stem cell-like (ES-like) morphology. The feeders tested had an effect on the behavior of plated ICM. Some feeders, represented by PUE, BRL, STO:BRL (1:1), PEF:BRL (1:1), and PH3A, did not promote attachment of the ICM to the feeder layer; others, represented by STO and MEF, allowed attachment, differentiation and proliferation. On PEF feeders the ICM spread onto the feeder layer after attachment without apparent signs of proliferation or differentiation. None of the feeders tested increased the efficiency of isolation or the growth characteristics of embryo-derived (both ES-like and epithelial-like) cell lines over that of STO feeders.     

Human alveolar macrophage fibronectin: synthesis, secretion, and ultrastructural localization during gelatin-coated latex particle binding

Human pulmonary alveolar macrophages synthesized and secreted several characteristic high molecular weight proteins for at least 7 d in vitro. Immunoprecipitates of medium and cell lysates from metabolically labeled cultures with specific anti-human plasma fibronectin IgG contained one major labeled polypeptide of molecular weight 440,000 (unreduced) or 220,000 (reduced). An identical polypeptide in conditioned medium from radiolabeled macrophages bound specifically to gelatin-Sepharose, demonstrating that alveolar macrophages synthesized and secreted a molecule immunologically and functionally similar to fibronectin. Fibronectin was the major newly synthesized and secreted polypeptide of freshly harvested alveolar macrophages. Pulse-chase experiments revealed that newly synthesized fibronectin was rapidly secreted into medium, approximately 50 percent appearing by 1 h and 80 percent by 8 h. Immunoperoxidase staining using antifibronectin F(ab’)(2)-peroxidase conjugates revealed the majority of immunoreactive fibronectin to be intracellular, localized to endoplasmic reticulum and Golgi apparatus. No extracellular matrix fibronectin was visualized, and cell surface staining was rarely seen, usually appearing only at sites where cells were closely apposed and not at sites of macrophage-substrate attachment. Similar immunostaining of fibroblast cultures revealed cell surface-associated fibrillar fibronectin. Ultrastructural localization of fibronectin during binding and phagocytosis of gelatin-coated and plain latex particles revealed fibronectin only on gelatin-latex beads and at their cell binding sites. Neigher plain latex beads nor their cell membrane binding sites stained for fibronectin. These results demonstrate that fibronectin is a major product of human alveolar macrophages, is rapidly secreted, and is localized at cell membrane binding sites for gelatin-coated particles. In view of the known binding properties of fibronectin, it may serve as an endogenous opsonic factor promoting the binding of staphylococcus, denatured collagen, fibrin, or other macromolecules to macrophages in the lower respiratory tract.     

Phylogenetic screening of the human genome: identification of differentially hybridizing repetitive sequence families

The phi-screen, a method of phylogenetic screening, can be employed to detect repetitive sequence families that differentially hybridize between closely related species. Such differences may involve sequence divergence or variations in copy number, including total presence versus absence of a family of repeated DNA. We present the results of a phi-screen comparing the human genome to that of the prosimian, Galago crassicaudatus. Three human repetitive families that are divergent or not present in galago have been detected. One of these families is described in detail; it is similar among the anthropoids but is present in a lower copy number and/or divergent form in prosimians. The family is clearly related to the transposon-like human element (THE) described by Paulson et al. (1985). THEs have long terminal repeats reminiscent of retroviruses but are unique in that they have no sequence similarity to known mammalian retroviruses. The sequence of a solo long terminal repeat, found unassociated with THE internal sequence, is presented. This family member, THE p2, is bordered by a 5-bp target-site repeat and is interrupted by the insertion of an Alu element. A solo THE element sequenced by Wiginton et al. (1986) contains an insertion of Alu at precisely the same position as does THE p2.      

DNA divergence in and around the alcohol dehydrogenase locus in five closely related species of Hawaiian Drosophila

The alcohol dehydrogenase (Adh) region from five planitibia subgroup species of Hawaiian picture-wing Drosophila has been cloned. A total of 15 kb of DNA in and around the Adh gene has been compared among the five species. Genetic distances were calculated to determine evolutionary relationships. These distances agree with previous distances determined by protein polymorphism and DNA hybridization techniques and can be interpreted in terms of specific island colonization and speciation (founder) events over the past 5 Myr. Examination of the restriction maps of the cloned Adh region from the five species shows many instances of small deletions, insertion of a transposable element in D. heteroneura, and the existence of a highly variable region on the 3' side of the Adh gene. Clustering relationships and rates of DNA change are calculated and compared with the relationship found for other species of Drosophila.      

Conference Report: East meets West

Second International Conference on Transgenic Animals, Beijing, China, October 23–26, 1998. Organized by the Bilong Institute for Transgenic Animals and the China International Conference Center for Sciences and Technology