Characterization of invertebrate cell lines

Summary A reliable, simple method for the separation of four cellular isozymes utilizing celluloseacetate electrophoresis is described. Cell extracts of 16 cell lines were examined previously, utilizing starch gel electrophoretic techniques. These same cell extracts were retested for their isozyme phenotype using the cellulose-acetate electrophoretic system. These data indicate that the results of the two electrophoretic systems are comparable. Isozyme analyses of freshly prepared cell extracts of theAedes albopictus (ATC-15) andSpodoptera frugiperda (IPLB-SF-21AE) cell lines resulted in identical isozyme mobilities when compared with their respective stored counterparts. Since the cellulose-acetate electrophoretic system was able to separate cellular isozymes into characteristic patterns, distinctions between cell lines were made. The application of this technique for identification and characterization of invertebrate cell lines is discussed. This research was supported in part by the Rockefeller Foundation and U.S. Public Health Service Grant AI-13727.