Identification and fate of a marker chromosome in methotrexate-resistant V79,B7 cells by flow karyotyping and sorting, metaphase analysis and in situ hybridization.

The chromosomes from a methotrexate (MTX)-resistant and its parental V79,B7 Chinese hamster cell line were analysed by the combined use of flow karyotyping and sorting, metaphase analysis and in situ hybridization with a probe for the dihydrofolate reductase (DHFR) gene responsible for methotrexate resistance. A marker chromosome with an elongated arm carrying the amplified DHFR gene was identified by in situ hybridization of metaphase cells of the methotrexate-resistant line. In the flow karyotype the marker chromosome was found as an additional peak with a higher DNA content compared with the largest chromosome of the sensitive line. This was additionally verified by G-banding of the chromosomes sorted from the marker peak. Several other chromosomal rearrangements not associated with the amplified gene could be identified in the methotrexate-resistant line by the combined use of flow karyotyping and metaphase analysis. The fate of the original marker chromosome was studied in cells growing several weeks in the absence of methotrexate, comparing flow karyotyping and metaphase analysis. The original marker chromosome was lost in about 50% of the cells after 5 weeks and in about 60% of the cells after 8 weeks; between 80 and 90% of the cells, however, contained marker chromosomes of various sizes. The MTX-resistance decreased in parallel during loss of the original marker chromosome. In conclusion, the study shows that the power of cytogenetic analysis is improved by the combined use of conventional cytogenetics, molecular cytogenetics and flow cytometry.     

Localization of amplified CAD genes on rearranged chromosomes of Chinese hamster cells

Chinese hamster cell lines carrying an amplified CAD region were selected from V79,B7 cells by their resistance to N-phosphonacetyl-L-aspartate (PALA). In one of the selected cell lines, SP PALA _inf1 ^supR L, an acrocentric chromosome with abnormally elongated q arms was identified as a marker for the PALA-resistant phenotype. The marker chromosome carried a homogeneously staining region close to a telomeric nucleolar organizer region. In the same region, localization of amplified CAD sequences was demonstrated by in situ hybridization. The marker chromosome was found to undergo extensive rearrangements. In particular, dicentric chromosomes, occurring with an unusually high incidence, were found to originate from end-fusion of two homologous marker chromosomes.Abbreviations ATCase Aspartate Transcarbamylase - CAD Carbamyl-phosphate synthetase-Aspartate transcarbamylase-Dihydroorotase - MTX Methotrexate - NOR Nucleolar Organizer Region - PALA N-phosphonacetyl-L-Aspartate     

Single-copy and amplified CAD genes in Syrian hamster chromosomes localized by a highly sensitive method for in situ hybridization.

Syrian hamster cells resistant to N-(phosphonacetyl)-L-aspartate (PALA), a specific inhibitor of the aspartate transcarbamylase activity of the multifunctional protein CAD, overproduce this protein as a result of amplification of the CAD gene. We have used a sensitive in situ hybridization technique to localize CAD genomes in spreads of metaphase chromosomes from several independent PALA-resistant lines and from wild-type PALA-sensitive cells. The amplified genes were always found within chromosomes, usually in an expanded region of the short arm of chromosome B9. In wild-type cells, the CAD gene was also on the short arm of chromosome B9. In one mutant line, 90 to 100 CAD genes were found within an expanded B9 chromosome and 10 to 15 more were near the distal end of one arm of several different chromosomes. Another line contained most the genes in a telomeric chromosome or large chromosome fragment. The amplified genes were in chromosomal regions that were stained in a banded pattern by trypsin-Giemsa. A few double minute chromosomes were observed in a very small fraction of the total spreads examined. The it situ hybridizations were performed in the presence of 10% dextral sulfate 500, which increases the signal by as much as 100-fold. Using recombinant DNA plasmids nick-translated with [125I]dCTP to high specific radioactivity, 10 CAD genes in a single chromosomal region were revealed after 1 week of autoradiographic exposure, and the position of the unique gene could be seen after 1 month.     

Mapping of the gene encoding the multifunctional protein carrying out the first three steps of pyrimidine biosynthesis to human chromosome 2

Summary The CAD gene encodes a trifunctional protein that carries the activities of the first three enzymes (carbamyl phosphate synthetase II, aspartate transcarbamylase, and dihydroorotase) of de novo pyrimidine biosynthesis. Genomic fragments of the human CAD gene have been obtained by screening a human genomic library in bacteriophage lambda using a Syrian hamster cDNA clone as a probe. These human genomic clones have been used to assign the CAD gene to human chromosome 2 using in situ hybridization to human metaphase chromosomes and Southern blot hybridization analysis of DNA isolated from a panel of Chinese hamster/human hybrid cells. In situ hybridization analysis has allowed further localization of this gene to the chromosomal region 2p21-p22.     

Amplification of portions of the genome in mammalian somatic cells resistant to colchicine. II. Marker chromosomes with long homogeneously staining regions in colchicine-resistant cells of the Djungarian hamster

The series of sublines 170-750 times more resistant to colchicine were obtained from 10 independent clones of Djungarian hamster cells possessing 16-22-fold resistance to the drug. From each clone, several sublines with different levels of colchicine-resistance were developed. The drug resistance was unstable. 2,7-4,0% of cells per population doubling lost resistance to selective dosages of colchicine. The loss of resistance was stepwise. The chromosomes stained by trypsin G-banding technique were studied in 17 sublines. 15 sublines derived from 9 independent clones contained chromosomes with long homogeneously staining regions (HSRs). These were, as a rule, primarily localized in the long arm of chromosome 4. During cultivation, HSRs were transferred from chromosome 4 into other chromosomes. Evidently, transposition of HSRs was due to translocations of different chromosomes of HSRs in the chromosome 4 and to subsequent breakages of the resulting dicentrics within HSRs. A great number of different chromosomal rearrangements was also found in the cells containing HSRs. Possibly, formation of HSR leads to destabilization of the karyotype and to the variability of the genome. The length of HSRs varied in different cells of each subline. The levels of colchicine-resistance in different sublines did not correlate with the average length of HSRs in their cells. The lack of connection between the lengths of HSRs and the levels of drug resistance as well as the existence of highly resistant sublines with gene amplification, but without HSRs, suggest that amplified genes are localized in Djungarian hamster colchicine-resistant cells both in chromosomes and extrachromosomally.     

A boy with small supernumerary marker chromosome X identified by FISH

Marker or ring X chromosomes are frequently seen in Ullrich-Turner Syndrome with 46,X,r(X) karyotype, but only 8 children were reported with an extra marker X chromosome in at least some of their cell lines, we describe a 5 years old male patient who is mosaic (17%) for a cell line with an extra ring shaped marker X chromosome in addition to a normal 46,XY cell line. He had mild motor mental retardation, a dysmorphic face, dysplastic ears, high arched palate, cryptorchidism and brachydactyly. G-banding showed 46,XY[83]/47,XY,+r?[17] karyotype. NOR banding revealed no satellite region but its centromere was intact in C-banding. By fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH) technique, dual X/Y alpha-satellite probes were used to detect the origin of ring shaped marker chromosome and 17% of his cells had two X chromosome signals due to marker X; hybridization with X chromosome inactivation center (XIST) specific probe revealed the absence of the locus on the ring chromosome. In this report, clinical features of our patient are compared with previously reported cases and the cytogenetic and molecular cytogenetic techniques used to detect origin of marker chromosome are discussed.     

Localization of dihydrofolate reductase amplified genes in Chinese hamster cells resistant to methotrexate

New sublines of BFFR1 and BFFR3 cells were obtained as a result of prolonged cultivation of Chinese hamster cells of Blld-ii-FAF 28 line (clone 431) in the presence of increasing concentrations of methotrexate (MTX). The lines obtained were resistant to 200 and 300 mcM of MTX, respectively. Amplification of the gene for dihydrofolate reductase (DHFR), similar to normal DHFR gene in restriction patterns, was proved by blot-hybridization of the resistant cells' DNA with 32P-labeled plasmid DHFR-26. Correlation is shown between the extent of gene amplification and resistance of the cell lines. In situ hybridization of the metaphase chromosomes of resistant cells with 3H-DHFR-26 results in preferential binding of the label with the regions of marker chromosomes 2 and 5, containing long, so called differential staining regions which are known to be the places of localization of amplified genes.     

Co-amplification of rRNA genes with CAD genes in N-(phosphonacetyl)-L-aspartate-resistant Syrian hamster cells.

The amplified CAD genes in N-(phosphonacetyl)-L-aspartate (PALA)-resistant Syrian hamster cells are located in an expanded chromosomal region emanating from the site of the wild-type gene at the tip of the short arm of chromosome B-9. The terminus of B-9 in PALA-sensitive cells contains a cluster of rRNA genes (i.e., a nucleolus organizer, rDNA). We have used a molecular clone containing sequences complementary to Syrian hamster 28S rRNA to investigate whether rDNA is coamplified with CAD genes in the PALA-resistant mutants. In situ hybridization of this probe to metaphase chromosomes demonstrates that rDNA and CAD genes do coamplify in two independently isolated PALA-resistant mutants. The tight linkage of CAD and rDNA genes was demonstrated by their coordinate translocation from B-9 to the end of the long arm of chromosome C-11 in one mutant. Blot hybridization studies substantiate the in situ hybridization results. Both types of analysis indicate that only one or two rDNA genes, on the average, are coamplified per CAD gene. The data are consistent with the model that unequal exchanges between rDNA genes mediate the amplification of CAD genes in the Syrian hamster mutants that were analyzed.     

Identification of trisomy in Macaca fascicularis by fluorescence in situ hybridization with a human chromosome 13 DNA library

A juvenile macaque monkey with abnormal phenotypic and behavioral features was studied cytogenetically. An additional autosome was found in over 90% of the animal's cultured cells. This chromosome, subsequently identified as number 16 in the macaque karyotype by G-banding, was shown to be mostly homologous with human chromosome 13 using fluorescence in situ hybridization of a human chromosome specific cosmid library. Although the monkey, now deceased, exhibited some abnormal physical and behavioral features, none of the severe clinical characteristics associated with human chromosome 13 trisomy were apparent. We suggest that the incomplete expression of 13-trisomy observed could result if the macaque chromosome were deficient in some of the region(s) of chromosome 13 common to humans affected with the disorder.     

Karyotype characteristics of C3H10T1/2-strain mouse fibroblasts undergoing long-term selection for their capacity to multiply in the presence of ethidium bromide

Variants Br-0.5 and Br-1 of minimally transformed mouse fibroblasts of C3H10T1/2 line were selected for their ability to proliferate in the medium with 0.5 and 1 mkg/ml of ethidium bromide (EB) toxic for cells of the parent line. Karyological analysis of metaphase chromosomes, stained by Giemsa for G-bands, revealed the number of significant changes in the karyotype of cells resistant to EB. In cells of the resistant sublines the variability of chromosomes was higher than in those of the sensitive population. Two groups of cells are distinguished in the Br-0.5 subline: those with near-diploid and tetraploid chromosome numbers, respectively. The number of polyploid cells in the EB-resistant sublines increases up to 38%, compared to 2% in the parent population. The marker chromosomes in resistant cells originated from translocations, deletions and inversions, with preferential involvement of the material from chromosomes 1.4 and 6. The pericentromeric region of chromosome 4 and the distal region of chromosome I (region 1H1-1H6) were characterized by the increased variability and preferential involvement in rearrangements. In cells of both resistant sublines double mini-chromosomes (1-5 copies per cell) were found. The relation between the revealed chromosomal rearrangements and the mechanism of EB-resistance is discussed.     

Chromosomal organization of the amplified esterase B1 gene in organophosphate-resistant Culex pipiens quinquefasciatus Say (Diptera, Culicidae)

In Culex pipiens quinquefasciatus from California, high resistance to organophosphorus insecticides is due to an increased production of the detoxifying esterase B1 resulting from a 250-fold amplification of the structural gene. The chromosomal organization of this amplified gene was studied by in situ hybridization techniques. Esterase B1 gene copies were found to be clustered on a single chromosome, tentatively identified as chromosome II.     

Detection of Klinefelter syndrome by G-banding analysis combined with primed in situ labeling technique

Primed in situ labeling (PRINS) technique is an alternative to in situ hybridization for rapid chromosome screening. We employed triple-color PRINS technique to detect chromosomal abnormalities in Klinefelter syndrome patients diagnosed by G-banding karyotype analysis. Among 1034 infertile male patients, 134 were found to be cytogenetically abnormal, including 70 with chromosomal number abnormalities and 64 with chromosomal structure abnormalities. Among these cytogenetically abnormal patients, 56 were diagnosed as having Klinefelter syndrome. PRINS technique was used on cultured lymphocyte metaphase cells of the Klinefelter syndrome patients; the same result was obtained with G-banding karyotype analysis. PRINS proved to be a rapid and reliable method to detect numerical chromosome abnormalities in peripheral blood lymphocytes in metaphase.     

cDNA cloning and mapping of the human creatine kinase M gene to 19q13

We describe the first isolation of a human creatine kinase M cDNA clone and its mapping of the gene to human chromosome 19. A human creatine kinase M cDNA clone, pJN2CK-M, harboring a 1,160-bp insert, was isolated by colony hybridization with a previously sequenced chicken creatine kinase M cDNA probe. The human cDNA was used as a probe in Southern transfers of TaqI-digested genomic DNA from mouse/human somatic-cell hybrids to localize the human creatine kinase-M gene to chromosome 19. In situ hybridization of the tritiated cDNA probe to metaphase chromosomes of peripheral blood lymphocytes from normal males revealed significant labeling to chromosome 19. These two independent methodologies assign the human creatine kinase-M gene to chromosome 19. Since greater than 69% of the grains of chromosome 19 label band q13, the human creatine kinase-M gene has been mapped to 19q13. On the basis of high-resolution G-banding, the predominant labeling site was 19q13.2-q13.3.     

Distinctive chromosomal structures are formed very early in the amplification of CAD genes in Syrian hamster cells

As visualized by in situ hybridization with fluorescence detection, newly amplified CAD genes in 10(5) cell colonies are contained in multiple copies of very large regions of DNA, each tens of megabases long. The extra DNA is usually linked to the short arm of chromosome B9, which retains CAD at its normal site. The widely spaced genes are often interspersed with new G-negative regions. Individual cells within a clone have highly variable numbers of CAD genes (range 2-15). When resistant clones are examined later, at the 10(15) cell stage, the amplified genes are usually found in much more condensed structures. We propose that, in the initial event of CAD gene amplification, much of the short arm is transferred from one B9 chromosome to another. In subsequent cell cycles this initial duplication expands rapidly through unequal but homologous sister chromatid exchanges. Relatively rare secondary events lead to more condensed structures.     

Clonal derivatives of a human B-lymphoblastoid cell line producing prolactin—A cytogenetic characterization

The IM-9-P cell line is a variant of the human B-lymphoblastoid cell line IM-9 which ectopically secretes prolactin (hPRL). The heterogeneous line IM-9-P and three sublines of clonal origin, two of them positive and one negative for PRL gene expression, were subjected to cytogenetic analysis and compared with the reference line IM-9 which showed a normal female diploid karyotype. G-banding revealed several rearrangements in the chromosomes. Nine altered chromosomes including one stable marker chromosome were common to all analysed karyotypes of IM-9-P cells and their clones. A second marker chromosome mar2 occurred only in the karyotypes of the hPRL producing clones, but not in the non-producing clone. None of the visible alterations involve chromosome 6 which carries the PRL gene in humans.     

Physical mapping of the genes for three components of the mouse DNA replication complex: polymerase alpha to the X chromosome, primase p49 subunit to chromosome 10, and primase p58 subunit to chromosome 1

DNA polymerase alpha and primase are two key enzymatic components of the eukaryotic DNA replication complex. In situ hybridization of cloned cDNAs for mouse DNA polymerase alpha and for the two subunits of mouse primase has been utilized to physically map these genes in the mouse genome. The DNA polymerase alpha gene (Pola) was mapped to the mouse X chromosome in region C-D. The gene encoding the p58 subunit of primase (Prim2) was located to mouse chromosome 1 in region A5-B and the p49 subunit gene (Prim1) was found to be on mouse chromosome 10 in the distal part of band D that is close to the telomere. Current knowledge of mouse and human conserved chromosomal regions along with the findings presented here lead to predictions of where the genes for the DNA primase subunits may be found in the human genome: the p58 subunit gene may be on human chromosome 2 and the p49 subunit gene on human chromosome 12. The mapping of Pola to region C-D of the mouse X chromosome adds a new marker in a conserved region between the mouse X chromosome and region Xp21-22.1 of the human X chromosome.     

Cytogenetic and in situ DNA-hybridization studies in intracranial tumors of a patient with central neurofibromatosis

Summary We have studied a meningioma and an acoustic neurinoma of a patient with central neurofibromatosis. In the meningioma cells, one chromosome 22 was replaced by an almost metacentric, bisatellited marker chromosome that appeared monocentric after CBG-staining. In situ hybridization with a chromosome 22 centromere specific DNA probe (p22hom48.4) revealed specific signals in the pericentromeric region of the marker chromosome, indicating the presence of at least the short arm and the centromere of chromosome 22. The pericentromeric localization of the hybridization signals suggests the marker consists of an isoformation of the short arm of chromosome 22, resulting in a monosomy for the long arm of chromosome 22. In contrast to these finding in meningioma cells, no chromosomal abnormality could be detected in acoustic neurinoma cells. Our finding provide further evidence that loss of genetic material on the long arm of chromosome 22 is associated with the development of central neurofibromatosis.     

Monochromosomal rodent-human hybrids from microcell fusion of human lymphoblastoid cells containing an inserted dominant selectable marker

An improved system for the production of a series of rodent-human hybrids selectively retaining single human chromosomes marked in known locations is described. Such hybrids have significant applications in gene mapping and other genetic studies. Human lymphoblastoid lines were infected with the retroviral vector SP-1, which contains the bacterial his-D gene allowing mammalian cells to grow in the presence of histidinol. Microcell fusion of the infected lymphoblastoid cells with CHO cells was used to produce hybrids containing single human chromosomes retained by histidinol selection. Hybrids containing a single human chromosome 9 and a single human chromosome 19 are described. These have been characterized cytogenetically by G-banding, in situ hybridization, and Southern blot analysis.     

Isolation of microcell hybrid clones containing retroviral vector insertions into specific human chromosomes.

We sought an efficient means to introduce specific human chromosomes into stable interspecific hybrid cells for applications in gene mapping and studies of gene regulation. A defective amphotropic retrovirus was used to insert the gene conferring G418 resistance (neo), a dominant selectable marker, into the chromosomes of diploid human fibroblasts, and the marked chromosomes were transferred to mouse recipient cells by microcell fusion. We recovered five microcell hybrid clones containing one or two intact human chromosomes which were identified by karyotype and marker analysis. Integration of the neo gene into a specific human chromosome in four hybrid clones was confirmed by segregation analysis or by in situ hybridization. We recovered four different human chromosomes into which the G418 resistance gene had integrated: human chromosomes 11, 14, 20, and 21. The high efficiency of retroviral vector transformation makes it possible to insert selectable markers into any mammalian chromosomes of interest.