An adenosine kinase mutation in baby hamster kidney cells causing increased sensitivity to adenosine

A class of aravinosyladenine (araA)-resistant mutants of baby hamster kidney (BHK 21/C13) cells exhibits multiple phenotypes: resistance to araA and deoxyadenosine, extreme sensitivity to adenosine (Ado) and varying degrees of deficiency in adenosine kinase (AK) activity. One of these Ado^s/araA^r strains, ara-S10d, was isolated without mutagenesis and was shown to possess about 59% level of the wild-type AK activity. The AK from ara-S10d had an altered K_m and pH optimum and was stimulated by K⁺ cations. A number of Ado^s to Ado^r revertants were isolated from araS10d, and in all of the 7 examined, the AK activity was reduced to a nondetectable level. The altered kinetic parameters of the AK enzyme in ara-S10d cells suggest a mutation of the AK gene that leads to the synthesis of an altered enzyme. The loss of AK activity in the Ado^r revertants suggests an association of the enhanced Ado sensitivity to the AK mutation.     

Novel glycosylation-defective baby hamster kidney cells.

The plant lectin wheat germ agglutinin (WGA) has previously been used to select more than ten different glycosylation-defective phenotypes in a variety of mammalian somatic cells. Three WGA-resistant phenotypes have now been obtained spontaneously from baby hamster kidney (BHK) cells. These mutant BHK cells exhibit a pattern of cross resistance and sensitivity to multiple plant lectins, suggesting that the cell surface carbohydrates of these cells are altered. Two WGA-resistant BHK phenotypes appear similar to WGA-resistant CHO cells that lack terminal sialic acid and galactose residues on their cell surface carbohydrates. The third WGA-resistant BHK cell phenotype has not previously been seen in WGA-resistant mammalian cells.     

A quantitative analysis of the endocytic pathway in baby hamster kidney cells

A morphological analysis of the compartments of the endocytic pathway in baby hamster kidney (BHK) cells has been made using the fluid-phase marker horseradish peroxidase (HRP). The endocytic structures labeled after increasing times of endocytosis have been identified and their volume and surface densities measured. In the first 2 min of HRP uptake the volume density of the labeled structures increased rapidly and thereafter remained constant for the next 13-18 min. This plateau represents the volume density of endosome organelles and accounts for 0.65% of the cytoplasmic volume (or 6.8 microns 3 per cell). The labeled structures consist of tubular-cisternal elements which are frequently observed in continuity with 300-400 nm vesicles. After 15-20 min of internalization the volume density of HRP-labeled structures again increased rapidly and reached a second plateau between 30 and 60 min of labeling. This second increase corresponded to detectable levels of HRP reaching later, acid phosphatase (AcPase)-reactive compartments. These structures, comprising the prelysosomes and lysosomes, were mostly vesicular and collectively accounted for 3.5% of the cytoplasmic volume (or 37 microns 3 per cell). The absolute peripheral surface areas of the two classes of organelles (endosomes and prelysosomes/lysosomes) were estimated to be 430 and 370 microns 2 per cell, respectively. The volume of fluid internalized in the first 2 min of uptake was five- to sevenfold less than the volume of the compartment labeled in this time. To account for these results we propose that, after uptake from the cell surface, HRP is delivered to, and diluted in, endosomes that are preexisting organelles initially devoid of the marker. With increasing times of endocytosis the concentration of HRP in the early endosomes increases, as more of the marker enters this compartment. An elevation in HRP concentration in endosomes during the early time points was shown directly using anti- HRP antibodies and colloidal gold on cryosections. The stereological values given in the present study, in combination with earlier studies, provide a minimum estimate for both the total surface area of membranes and the rate of membrane synthesis in a BHK cell.     

Isolation and characterization of norleucine-resistant baby hamster kidney cells

Variants resistant to low and high levels of the methionine analogue norleucine were isolated in baby hamster kidney cells and in two clonal sublines, B1 and TG2. Clones resistant to high levels of norleucine were observed only after chemical mutagenesis, whereas clones capable of growing in low concentrations of norleucine occurred with equal frequency spontaneously and after mutagenesis. The variants were characterized with respect to uptake of ¹⁴C-norleucine and ¹⁴C-methionine. Five clones were found to be deficient in ¹⁴C-norleucine uptake, and of these, four showed reduced ¹⁴C-methionine uptake. The variants were tested also for increased activity of N₅-methyl-tetrahydrofolate: homocysteine methyltransferase, the enzyme which catalyses the terminal reaction in methionine biosynthesis. In four clones, higher levels of the methyltransferase were present than in the wild-type cells, suggesting overproduction or stabilization of this enzyme.     

Growth of baby hamster kidney cells in media containing neuraminidase

An established line of baby hamster kidney cells, BHK 21/C13 grows in media containing high concentrations of Vibrio cholerae neuraminidase at the same initial exponential rate as control cells grown in the absence of the enzyme. Glycoprotein fractions removed from the surface of cells grown with neuraminidase contain less than 4% of the sialic acid present in similar fractions removed from control cells. The significance of these results are discussed in relation to the role suggested for sial glycoproteins in growth control. A small but significant increase was observed in the density of confluent cells in media containing neuraminidase compared with control cultures.     

Initial attachment of baby hamster kidney cells to an epoxy substratum. Ultrastructural analysis

In the presence of serum-containing medium, BHK cells attached and spread during a 1-h period onto a 3-5 nm thick serum layer absorbed on the substratum surface. The closest approach of the plasma membrane to the serum layer was observed to be about 9nm, which was determined by tilting the sectioned cells in a goniometer holder. Bundles of microfilaments or other cytoplasmic specializations were not observed in association with the regions of close contact. However, in the space between the plasma membrane and the adsorbed serum layer, a diffusely stained material could be visualized after fixation/staining by the tannic acid-glutaraldehyde technique. This technique also permitted increased clarity of visualization of trilaminar appearance of the plasma membrane. The distribution and mobility of anionic sites on the surfaces of attached and spreading cells was determined by labeling with polycationic ferritin. We observed movement of polycationic ferritin into large clusters on the cell surface, collapse of cell surface microextensions, and endocytosis, all of which were similar to our previous findings utilizing cells in suspension. However, the absolute amount of ferritin bound to the upper cell surface was less than that previously observed when suspended cells were put under similar labeling conditions. Also, polycationic ferritin did not appear to penetrate between the lower cell surface and the substratum.     

Comparison of protein sulfation in control and virus-transformed baby hamster kidney cells

Protein sulfation in baby hamster kidney cells (BHK) and their polyoma virus transformants (PY-BHK) was studied comparatively. On in vivo labeling, [35S]-sulfate was incorporated into the 50K protein and proteins in the 100-180K range, represented by the 155K protein. The incorporation into both the 50K and 155K protein was elevated 2-3 fold in PY-BHK cells compared to in BHK cells. Tyrosine-O-sulfate was the only identifiable sulfated amino acid in both proteins. On in vitro labeling with [35S]3'-phosphoadenosine 5'-phosphosulfate (PAPS), at least 6 radioactive protein bands were discernible on gel electrophoresis. Of these, sulfation of the 57K and 60K proteins was elevated in PY-BHK cells compared to in BHK cells, whereas sulfation of the 39K protein was depressed in PY-BHK cells. Tyrosine-O-sulfate was the only identifiable sulfated amino acid in these proteins.     

Disruption of phosphatidylserine translocation to the mitochondria in baby hamster kidney cells

Phosphatidylserine synthase is found predominantly in the microsomal fraction, and phosphatidylserine decarboxylase is found predominantly in the mitochondrial fraction of baby hamster kidney (BHK-21) cells. This segregation of enzymes of phosphatidylserine metabolism allows serine metabolism to phosphatidylserine and phosphatidylethanolamine to be used as an indicator of the intracellular movement of phosphatidylserine. After BHK-21 cells were pulse-labeled with [3H]serine, phosphatidylserine was efficiently labeled, and subsequently 40-50% of this radiolabeled lipid turned over to form phosphatidylethanolamine during a 7.5-h chase. Treatment of cells with NaN3 plus NaF or cycloheximide at the end of the pulse labeling period markedly inhibited the rate and extent of phosphatidylserine turnover during the chase period. The inhibition of phosphatidylserine turnover could not be attributed to inhibition of either phosphatidylserine decarboxylase or phosphatidylserine exchange protein activity. Subcellular fractionation of the BHK-21 cells demonstrated that cells poisoned with NaN3 plus NaF accumulated phosphatidylserine in the microsomal fraction relative to unpoisoned cells. The results indicate that metabolic energy is required for the transport of phosphatidylserine to the mitochondria.     

Thermal stability of ribosomal ribonucleic acid from baby hamster kidney cells

1. RNA has been prepared from baby hamster kidney cells by extraction with a phenol–EDTA mixture and further purified by passing through a column of Sephadex G-25 that had been equilibrated with water. 2. Aging of the total RNA extracts at 4° or heating at 95° followed by rapid cooling caused a conversion of 28s RNA into material sedimenting in sucrose gradients at approx. 18s. 3. When heated RNA was re-extracted with phenol the sedimentation profile was not returned to that of the unheated RNA. 4. The 28s and 18s RNA fractions were collected separately from sucrose gradients by precipitation with 2vol. of ethanol and passed through a Sephadex G-25 column equilibrated with water. 5. Heat treatment of purified 28s RNA at 95° caused the sedimentation coefficient to increase to approx. 40s, whereas similar treatment of 18s RNA caused no significant increase. If the RNA was heated before the Sephadex G-25 treatment the sedimentation coefficient of the 28s and 18s RNA decreased to approx. 12s and 8s. 6. Heating mixtures of purified 28s and 18s RNA at 95° caused some aggregation of 18s material with the 28s fraction.     

Analysis of proteins associated with chromosome condensation in baby hamster kidney cells

To identify proteins concerned with chromosome condensation processes, we used a temperature-sensitive mutant, tsBN2 derived from BHK21, in which premature chromosome condensation occurred at high temperature. When the proteins synthesized in tsBN2 during the induction of premature chromosome condensation were analyzed by two-dimensional gel electrophoresis, we found that an acidic protein with a molecular weight of 35,000 was specifically associated with chromosome condensation. In the normal cell cycle, this protein was synthesized from the G2 through the M phase. The protein was located mainly in the chromosome fraction and was phosphorylated.     

Release of the glucose-regulated protein 94 by baby hamster kidney cells

Glucose-regulated protein 94 (grp94) is a major component of the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) lumen of eukaryotic cells. We showed that grp94 is released from baby hamster kidney (BHK-21) cells into a serum-free medium. The exit of grp94 into the medium was not related to the protein discharge due to cell death and was independent of de novo protein synthesis. The treatment of cells with brefeldin A and monensin, the inhibitors of the classical pathway of protein secretion, did not decrease the extracellular level of grp94, indicating that the discharge of grp94 from cells does not occur through the ER/Golgi-dependent pathway. Exosomes, membrane vesicles secreted by several cell types, were not involved in the release of grp94 from cells. Methyl-β-cyclodextrin, a substance that disrupts the lipid raft organization, considerably reduced the extracellular level of grp94, indicating that lipid rafts are involved in the liberation of grp94 from BHK-21 cells. The results suggest that BHK-21 cells release grp94 into the serum-free medium via the nonclassical secretory pathway in which lipid rafts play an important role. Copyright ? 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Adenosine modulates cell growth in baby hamster kidney (BHK) cells

Adenosine is known to modulate cell growth in a variety of mammalian cells either via the activation of receptors or through metabolism. We investigated the effect of adenosine on Baby Hamster Kidney (BHK) cell growth and attempted to determine its mechanism of modulation. In wild-type BHK cells, adenosine evoked a biphasic response in which a low concentration of adenosine (1-5 microM) produced an inhibition of colony formation but at higher concentrations (up to 50 microM) this inhibition was progressively reversed. However, no biphasic response was observed in an "adenosine kinase" deficient BHK mutant, "5a", which suggests that adenosine kinase plays an important role in the modulation of growth response to adenosine. Adenosine receptors did not appear to have a role in regulating cell growth of BHK cells. Specific A1 and A2 receptor antagonists were unable to reverse the effect of adenosine on cell growth. Even though a specific A3 adenosine receptor antagonist MRS-1220 partly reversed the inhibition in colony formation at 1 microM adenosine, it also affected the transport of adenosine. Thus adenosine transport and metabolism appears to play the major role in this modulation of cell growth as 5'-amino-5'-deoxyadenosine, an adenosine kinase inhibitor, reversed the inhibition of cell growth observed at 1 microM adenosine. These results, taken together, would suggest that adenosine modulates cell growth in BHK mainly through its transport and metabolism to adenine nucleotides.     

Comparative analysis of caffeine and 3-aminobenzamide as DNA repair inhibitors in Syrian baby hamster kidney cells

The effects of caffeine and 3-aminobenzamide (3-AB) on Syrian baby hamster kidney cells treated with DNA-alkylating agents and ultraviolet-light suggest that two different DNA-repair mechanisms are involved. Both these agents enhanced the cell kill after methyl methanesulfonate (MMS) treatment. However, enhanced lethality was observed only with caffeine post-treatment when cells were exposed to nitrogen mustard (HN2) or ultraviolet light (UV); 3-AB did not appreciably change cell killing by these agents. With MMS-treated cultures, the effect of caffeine was maximal about 16 h later. The effect of 3-AB on the other hand, was exerted during the first 4 h after exposure to MMS. Caffeine's effect on cell survival could be abolished by low concentrations of cycloheximide, whereas 3-AB's effect could not. Furthermore, the G2 block in cell cycle progression, after MMS treatment, was not observed if the cells were post-treated with caffeine. In the presence of 3-AB, MMS-treated cells were arrested in G2 phase at a much earlier time compared to cells not treated with 3-AB. Finally caffeine post-treatment produced a 10-fold increase in nuclear fragmentation in MMS-treated cells. 3-AB did not cause nuclear fragmentation by itself but further enhanced the nuclear fragmenting effect of caffeine when both agents were present during the posttreatment. Therefore, we propose that 3-AB and caffeine each prevent a different repair mechanism from being effective.     

Effects of plant lectins on the adhesive properties of baby hamster kidney cells

We studied the effects of different lectins on the adhesive properties of baby hamster kidney (BHK) cells. The purpose of these studies was to learn more about the cell surface receptors involved in cell adhesion. Three adhesive phenomena were analyzed: 1) the adhesion of BHK cells to lectin-coated substrata; 2) the effects of lectins on the adhesion of cells to substrata coated by plasma fibronectin (pFN); and 3) the effects of lectins on the binding of pFN-coated beads to cells. Initial experiments with fluorescein-conjugated lectins indicated that concanavalin A (Con A), ricinus communis agglutinin I (RCA I), and wheat germ agglutinin (WGA) bound to BHK cells but peanut agglutinin (PNA), soybean agglutinin (SBA), and ulex europaeus agglutinin I (UEA I) dod not bind. All three of the lectins which bound to the cells promoted cell spreading on lectin substrata, and the morphology of the spread cells was similar to that observed with cells spread on pFN substrata. Protease treatment of the cells, however, was found to inhibit cell spreading on pFN substrata or WGA substrata more than on Con A substrata or RCA I substrata. In the experiment of cells with Con A or WGA inhibited cell spreading on pFN substrata, but RCA I treatment had no effect. Finally, treatment of cells with WGA inhibited binding to cells of pFN beads, but neither Con A nor RCA I affected this interaction. These results indicate that the lectins modify cellular adhesion in different ways, probably by interacting with different surface receptors. The possibility that the pFN receptor is a WGA receptor is discussed.     

Fibronectin-mediated binding and phagocytosis of polystyrene latex beads by baby hamster kidney cells

The binding and phagocytosis of fibronectin (pFN)-coated latex beads by baby hamster kidney (BHK) cells was studied as a function of fibronectin concentration and bead diameter. Cells were incubated with radioactive pFN-coated beads, and total bead binding (cell surface or ingested) was measured as total radioactivity associated with the cells. Of the bound beads, those that also were phagocytosed were distinguished by their insensitivity to release from the cells by trypsin treatment. In continuous incubations, binding of pFN-coated beads to cells occurred at 4 degrees C or 37 degrees C, but phagocytosis was observed only at 37 degrees C. In addition, degradation of 3H-pFN from ingested beads occurred at 37 degrees C, as shown by the release of trichloroacetic acid-soluble radioactivity into the incubation medium. When the fibronectin density on the beads was varied, binding at 4 degrees C and ingestion at 37 degrees C were found to have the same dose-response dependencies, which indicated that pFN densities that permitted bead binding were sufficient for phagocytosis to occur. The fibronectin density for maximal binding of ingestion was approximately 250 ng pFN/cm2. When various sized beads (0.085-1.091 micron), coated with similar densities of pFN, were incubated with cells at 4 degrees C, no variation in binding as a function of bead size was observed. Under these conditions, the absolute amount of pFN ranged from less than 100 molecules on the 0.085-micron beads to greater than 15,000 molecules on the 1.091-micron beads. Based upon these results it can be concluded that the critical parameter controlling fibronectin-mediated binding of latex beads by BHK cells is the spacing of the pFN molecules on the beads. Correspondingly, it can be suggested that the spacing between pFN receptors on the cell surface that is optimal for multivalent interactions to occur is approximately 18 nM. When phagocytosis of various sized beads was compared, it was found that the largest beads were phagocytosed slightly better (two fold) than the smallest beads. This occurred both in continuous incubations of cells with beads and when the beads were prebound to the cells. Finally, the kinetic constants for the binding of 0.085 microM pFN-coated beads to the cells were analyzed. There appeared to be approximately 62,000 binding sites and the KD was 4.03 X 10(-9) M. Assuming a bivalent interaction, it was calculated that BHK cells have approximately 120,000 pFN receptors/cell and the binding affinity between pFN and its receptor is approximately 6 X 10(-5) M.     

Uptake of 3H-labeled 1-aminooxy-3-aminopropane by baby hamster kidney cells

The uptake, catabolism, and release of H-labeled 1-aminooxy-3-aminopropane, a new putrescine analog shown to be a potent polyamine antimetabolite, into and from baby hamster kidney cells (BHK21/C13) were studied. The results show that [3H]-1-aminooxy-3-aminopropane (APA) is not concentrated in the cell, does not compete with polyamines for transport and reveals no difference in uptake between polyamine-depleted and control cells. After a 12-h culture, 60% of APA was recovered intact in the culture media. At this time point, only 30% of the intracellular radioactivity was intact APA, showing that the drug is catabolized in the cells. This intracellular ratio persisted throughout the 4-day culture period. The metabolites of APA were not characterized further. The results indicate that the drug is not recognized as a polyamine by the cells and does not replace or interfere with the polyamines in cellular functions. Thus, its potent affinity to ornithine decarboxylase and spermidine synthase is likely to be due to close structural similarity with the intermediates formed in these reactions. This has implications for the mechanisms involved.     

Ribosome topography in baby hamster kidney cells infected with Sindbis and vesicular stomatitis viruses

The topography of polysomal ribosomes in mock-infected and in Sindbis virus- and vesicular stomatitis virus-infected BHK cells was investigated using a double, radioactive labelling technique. Ribosomal proteins in intact polysomes were surface labelled by reductive methylation using [14C]formaldehyde. Following removal of ribosomal RNA, proteins were denatured in 6 M guanidine and labelled with [3H]borohydride. Labelled ribosomal proteins were separated by electrophoresis in two-dimensional gels and the 3H/14C ratio for each ribosomal protein was taken as an index of its relative surface exposure in intact ribosomes. Comparison of the ratios for individual ribosomal proteins in Sindbis virus-infected vs. control polysomes indicated that proteins L7, L8, L17, L26 and S19 became more 'buried' and others such as L4, L29, L36, S2 and S26 became more 'exposed' in infected cells. Most of the topographical alterations occurred in the large ribosomal subunit. In contrast, infection of BHK cells with vesicular stomatitis virus induced little or no topographical alteration.