Some factors affecting the production, by cultured baby-hamster kidney cells, of BHK glycoprotein I which cross-reacts immunologically with Tamm-Horsfall glycoprotein.

Cultured baby-hamster kidney cells (BHK-21/C13), which are adapted to grow in suspension (strain 2P), roduce a glycoprotein, termed BHK glycoprotein I, which cross-reacts immunologically with hamster urinary (Tamm-Horsfall glycoprotein. BHK glycoprotein I was isolated in an electrophoretically (sodium dodecyl sulphate/polyacrylamide gel) homogeneous form by application of affinity chromatography to the medium in which cells had been cultured. Insolubilized anti-(Tamm-Horsfall glycoprotein immunoglobulin G) was used as the adsorbent. The amount of BHK glycoprotein I associated with the cultured cells was found by both radioimmunoassay and immunofluorescence to be related to the amount of Ca2+ in the medium and to the particular stage of the cell cycle. 5'-Nucleotidase was also shed by the cells into the culture medium in amounts related to the stage of the cell cycle. The turnover of hamster Tamm-Horsfall glycoprotein in vivo appeared to be considerably more rapid than can be accounted for by cell turnover. Hamster Tamm-Horsfall glycoprotein was shown to be ineffective in inhibiting agglutination of chicken erythrocytes caused by influenza virus.     

Effect of drugs on deoxyribonucleic acid synthesis in isolated mammalian cell nuclei. Comparison with partially purified deoxyribonucleic acid polymerases.

In order to ascertain the identity of the DNA-dependent DNA polymerase responsible for the observed DNA synthesis in nuclei isolated from baby-hamster kidney (BHK-21/C13) cells a comparative study was carried out on the effects of some drugs, reported to influence DNA synthesis, on DNA synthesis catalysed by these nuclei and by partially purified DNA polymerase-alpha and -beta. In all cases DNA synthesis by isolated nuclei and polymerase-alpha was inhibited to similar extents by N-ethylmaleimide, p-hydroxymercuribenzoate, novobiocin, heparin and phosphonoacetic acid; polymerase-beta was much less affected by these compounds. Ethidium bromide inhibited all DNA synthesis to similar extents, although at low concentrations (about 2 microgram/ml) synthesis in isolated nuclei was stimulated. The results are discussed in relation to the proposal that DNA polymerase-alpha catalyses the covalent extension of Okazaki fragments that these nuclei carry out in vitro.     

The variable location of phosphoproteins on eukaryotic ribosomal subunits

A pair of phosphoproteins of low molecular weight detected on the 60S subunit of ribosomes isolated from Krebs II ascites cells are on the 40S subunit of ribosomes isolated from BHK-21/C13 cells. The possibility that these proteins may be located at the interface between the two subunits is discussed.     

Glycopeptides prepared from mouse cerebrum inhibit protein synthesis and cell division in baby hamster kidney cells, but not in their polyoma virus-transformed analogs

Glycopeptides isolated from mouse cerebral cortex cell surfaces (BCSG) were shown to inhibit cell growth and protein synthesis in baby hamster kidney (BHK)-21 cells, whereas polyoma virus-transformed BHK-21 cells (pyBHK-21) were refractory to the inhibitory activity of the glycopeptides. Growth inhibition was shown to be reversible and non-lethal to BHK-21 cells. Despite that difference in sensitivity to the action of the glycopeptides, both cell lines could bind the inhibitor in a saturable fashion and in similar quantities. After trypsinization, BHK-21 cells appeared refractory to the inhibitor, whereas pyBHK-21 cells became sensitive. The data suggested the presence of a receptor for BCSG on the cell surface of both cell lines. Incubating BCSG with conditioned medium from pyBHK-21 cells resulted in loss of the glycopeptide's inhibitory activity. In contrast, medium conditioned by BHK-21 cells had no effect on the inhibitory activity of BCSG. We hypothesize that the refractoriness of pyBHK-21 cells to BCSG is related to their autonomous growth characteristics and failure to respond to topo-inhibitory growth control. BCSG may be a naturally occurring growth regulator whose function can be explored by use of the BHK-21/ pyBHK-21 model system.     

Synthesis of deoxyribonucleic acid in BHK-21/C13 cells

Newly synthesized (3)H-labelled DNA was extracted from baby hamster kidney cells (BHK-21/C13 cells) and was shown to possess single-stranded properties when examined by column chromatography on benzoylated naphthoylated DEAE-cellulose, hydroxyapatite and methylated albumin on kieselguhr, and by its affinity for nitrocellulose filters. Some of the newly synthesized DNA was shown to be of lower molecular weight than the bulk of the DNA when examined by alkaline sucrose-density-gradient centrifugation. The properties observed were not affected by treatment of the DNA with ribonuclease, Pronase or amylase. The effect of the size of the DNA on its observed properties was examined and is discussed. It is concluded that DNA synthesis in BHK-21/C13 cells proceeds according to the discontinuous-mechanism model in at least one of the strands.     

Deoxyribonucleic acid-dependent ribonucleic acid polymerases from normal and polyoma-transformed BHK-21/C13 cells.

DNA-dependent RNA polymerase (EC 2.7.7.6) ACTIVITIES FROM NORMAL BHK-21/C13 cells and from BHK-21/C13 cells transformed by polyoma virus (PYY cells) were solubilized and fractionated on columns of DEAE-Sephadex. Various properties of the A and B enzymes from the two types of cell were compared. 1. The yields of polymerase relative to the DNA content of the nuclear preparations are similar for both cell types. 2. The ionic-strength optima of polymerases A and B are 12.5 mM and 100mM with respect to (NH4)2SO4 for both cell types. 3. The Mn2+/Mg2+ activity ratio (measured at the respective optimum for each cation) for polymerase A from BHK-21/C13 cells was 1.48 and for the polymerase A from PYY cells was 0.55. The corresponding ratios for polymerase B were 10.11 for BHK-21/C13 cells and 22.75 for PYY cells. 4. Minor differences in the ability of the A polymerases to transcribe native and denatured DNA templates were observed; such differences were not apparent when the B polymerases were compared. 5. All the polymerases were inhibited completely by actinomycin D and by rifampicin AF/013, but not markedly so by rifampicin. Alpha-amanitin inhibited polymerase B but not polymerase A.     

Acetylation of spermidine and methylglyoxal bis(guanylhydrazone) in baby-hamster kidney cells (BHK-21/C13).

Treatment of BHK-21/C13 cells with methylglyoxal bis(guanylhydrazone) (MGBG) induced the cytosolic form of spermidine N1-acetyltransferase. It stabilized the enzyme against proteolytic degradation, but the drug did not affect the enzyme activity in vitro. MGBG was itself acetylated by BHK-21/C13 cells, but at only one-tenth the rate at which spermidine was acetylated. Acetylation occurred almost exclusively in the nuclear fraction. The product was identified as N-acetyl-MGBG by h.p.l.c., by using [3H]acetyl-CoA and [14C]MGBG as co-substrates. The results suggest that the acetylation of MGBG by BHK-21/C13 cells occurs by a different acetyltransferase enzyme from that which acetylates spermidine.     

Deoxycytidylate deaminase. Evidence for a new enzyme in cells infected by the virus of herpes simplex

The activities of dCMP deaminase and DNA polymerase I increased twofold and fivefold in BHK-21/C13 cells after infection by the virus of herpes simplex. The increases were greatly diminished, and under certain conditions prevented, by inclusion of actinomycin D or cycloheximide in the cell-virus system during the infective cycle. The dCMP deaminase purified from infected cells harvested 8h after infection differed from the deaminase purified from non-infected cells inasmuch as (a) it was more resistant to heating at 37 degrees C; (b) the substrate (dCMP) concentration at half-maximum velocity was lower; (c) maximum activation was achieved by a lower concentration of dCTP; (d) it was more resistant to inhibition by dTTP; and (e) it behaved differently when assayed in the presence of a herpes-virus-specific antiserum. The DNA polymerase activity in the infected cells was markedly decreased in the presence of the herpes-virus-specific antiserum.     

Baby hamster kidney (BHK-21/C13) cells can express striated muscle type proteins

When baby hamster kidney (BHK-21/C13) cell lines are subjected to low-serum medium, cell morphology changes from polygonal to elongated and occasionally fusion of cells is also observed. BHK-21 cells initially growing in Eagle's modified minimum essential medium (EMEM) containing 10% newborn bovine serum were induced to differentiate by changing the culture medium after the cells had grown to confluency. After this point the cells were grown in a low-serum medium (EMEM with 2% normal horse serum), for at least 4 days. The expression of different muscle-specific proteins (desmin, titin and skeletal muscle myosin) and of tropomyosins was studied in both polygonal and elongated BHK-21 cells using the indirect-immunofluorescence assay, two-dimensional (2D)-gel electrophoresis and immunoblotting. Filamentous staining was found with the desmin antisera in the polygonal cells and at all stages of BHK-cell elongation. While no reaction was seen with the titin and myosin antibodies in the polygonal cells, a punctate staining reaction for titin was detected 2 days after medium-change, although the cells had not yet elongated. After 4 days titin was found in a striated pattern. Filamentous staining was seen with the skeletal-muscle-specific myosin antibody at this stage. Confirmatory results were obtained from immunoblotting assays and 2D-gel electrophoresis of cytoskeletal preparations from undifferentiated and differentiated BHK cells. These latter experiments showed the initiation of tropomyosin expression only in the differentiated cells. The positive staining with antibodies to skeletal muscle myosin and titin indicates a striated-muscle nature of the (elongated) BHK-21/C13 cells.     

Tumorigenicity of persistently infected tumors in nude mice is a function of both virus and host cell type.

Although BHK-21 cells persistently infected with wild-type vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV) are sensitive to natural killer (NK) cells and do not form tumors in athymic nude mice, BHK-21 cells persistently infected with a previously isolated mutant virus (VSV-P) are resistant to NK cells and form tumors in nude mice. We used this VSV-P mutant to persistently infect HeLa cells and mouse tumor cell lines. A mouse mastocytoma line (P815) persistently infected with VSV-P was similar to BHK-21 cells in that it was resistant to NK cell lysis and formed tumors in nude mice. However, neither HeLa cells nor mouse myeloma lines persistently infected with VSV-P were resistant to NK cell lysis in vitro, and neither formed tumors in nude mice. Rejection by nude mice of HeLa cells and mouse myeloma cell lines persistently infected with VSV-P could be ablated by rabbit antiserum to asialo-GM1, implicating NK cells in the in vivo rejection of these persistently infected tumors. These results suggest that NK cell recognition and killing of virus-infected cells in vivo and in vitro depend upon genetic contributions from both the virus and the host cell.     

Genome modification in two lines of baby hamster kidney fibroblasts (BHK-21).

Reasons for the different levels of 5-methyl cytosine encountered in the DNA of two baby hamsters kidney fibroblast lines, BHK-21/C13 and BHK-21/PyY have been investigated. From enzymic studies it does not seem that there are large numbers of potentially methylatable cytosine residues in the C13 line DNA which contains a lower level of 5-methyl cytosine. Rather it is possible that the difference may be due to the reiteration in the PyY strain of certain sequences containing 5-methyl cytosine which simply occur less frequently in the other line.     

Deoxyribonucleic acid synthesis in isolated nuclei from baby-hamster kidney cells (BHK-21/C13). Characterization of the system

A comparative study of some commonly employed laboratory procedures for studying DNA synthesis in isolated nuclei was carried out. Nuclei isolated from baby-hamster kidney (BHK-21/C13) cells synthesize DNA for 30-60min at 37 degrees C in a reaction requiring uni- and bi-valent cations, ATP and all four deoxyribonucleoside 5'-triphosphates. The addition of either ribonucleotides or cytosol from S-phase cells had no effect, but DNA synthesis was stimulated by some dextrans (mol.wt. 5x10(6)). The extent of synthesis was influenced by apparently minor variations in experimental conditions. For example, DNA synthesis by nuclei in Tris/HCl, pH7.5, was only 50% of that observed in Hepes/NaOH, pH7.5; the presence of detergents Triton X-100, Triton N-101, Nonidet P-40, Brij 58 and Tween 80 in the incubation medium altered the amount of synthesis to different extents. Although most detergents inhibited synthesis, a stimulation occurred with Tween 80 (150% of controls). These effects were reversed on washing the nuclei, except that of Brij 58, which inhibited DNA synthesis by 90-95% irreversibly. Anomalous sucrose-density-gradient sedimentation behaviour of the DNA, and of precursor [(3)H]-dTTP, was observed when nuclei were lysed with solutions of sodium dodecyl sulphate/Mg(2+) or with Sarkosyl/Mg(2+), but consistent results, showing that the DNA synthesized in vitro sedimented exclusively at about 4S, were obtained when nuclei were lysed with sodium dodecyl sulphate (without Mg(2+))/EDTA, digested with proteinase K and heated at 100 degrees C with 11% (v/v) formaldehyde to prevent macromolecular association. These results, coupled with density-labelling studies with bromodeoxyuridine and CsCl-density-gradient analysis, showed that DNA synthesis in these nuclei was replicative and was restricted to a covalent extension of Okazaki pieces previously initiated in vivo. No new initiations were observed, and the DNA was not ligated into larger molecules. The cessation of DNA synthesis after about 60 min was due to the complete utilization of available primer/template DNA.     

Variable alpha-tocopherol stimulation and protection of glutathione peroxidase activity in established and malignant fibroblasts.

Studies on glutathione (GSH) metabolism in an established baby hamster kidney fibroblast cell line (BHK-21/C13) and in its polyoma virus-transformed counterpart (BHK-21/PyY) have revealed a significant stimulation of intracellular GSH peroxidase (GSHpx) activity (selenium-independent plus selenium-dependent) by alpha-tocopherol supplementation (14 microM). This stimulation was found to be much greater in the transformed cells. Other GSH-requiring enzyme activities (i.e. GSH reductase and GSH S-transferase) were unaltered by alpha-tocopherol treatment, suggesting a degree of specificity in its action on GSHpx. In unsupplemented growth media, the GSHpx activity in both cell lines was significantly decreased by oxidative stress. However, the same stress applied to the alpha-tocopherol-supplemented cells had no effect on the stimulated GSHpx activity, suggesting that some protection was afforded by the alpha-tocopherol.     

Phosphorylated and other modified forms of eukaryotic ribosomal protein S3 analysed by two-dimensional gel electrophoresis.

Proteins were isolated from the 40S ribosomal subunits of baby-hamster kidney fibroblasts and subjected to two-dimensional gel electrophoresis. When the cells were pretreated with cyclic AMP or 2-deoxyglucose a more basic derivative of ribosomal protein S3 or S3a was often observed, apparently similar to that previously reported to occur early in liver generation. This derivative was not a dephosphorylated form of protein S3, which protein does not appear to be phosphorylated in normal cells; nor did it correspond to the proteolytic fragment, S3b. It appears to be an oxidation product of protein S3 or S3a, as it can be eliminated by thorough reduction of the ribosomal protein before electrophoresis. In contrast with previous results with Krebs II ascites cells, starvation of baby-hamster kidney fibroblasts of glucose did not cause extensive phosphorylation of ribosomal protein S3.     

Studies on the mechanism of antibody-mediated enhancement of Getah virus infectivity

Inoculation on BHK-21 cells with Getah virus sensitized with hyperimmune homologous mouse antiserum resulted in higher infective titers than those obtained with non-sensitized control virus. This phenomenon was not observed with Vero cells. Experiments were carried out on the mechanism of this enhancement with the following results. When BHK-21 cells were pretreated with a mixture of UV-irradiated virus and antiserum before inoculation, the enhancement of infectivity of Getah virus was markedly decreased. IgG antibody against Getah virus which had been digested with 1--2% of pepsin did not show any enhancing activity. Sensitized sheep erythrocytes adhered to monolayered cultures of BHK-21 cells. These results indicate that the appearance of enhancing activity of a complex of the virus and antibody is closely related with the existence of a receptor for the Fc part of IgG on ordinary tissue culture cells, BHK-21 cells.     

The apparent infection of NA-C1300 cell cultures by nucleocapsid material of the Canadian Arctic strain of rabies virus

Murine neuroblastoma (NA-C1300) and baby hamster kidney (BHK-21/C13) cell cultures were infected with the Canadian Arctic strain of rabies virus. Subcultures were passed following incubation for 3 to 4 days at 35 degrees C. The supernatant fluids from the BHK cultures demonstrated increasing infectivity in both NA and BHK cells concomitantly with an increase in the number of parent cells staining with an anti-glycoprotein stain. On the other hand, the supernatant fluids from the NA cultures initially showed higher infectivity in NA cells than in BHK cells. This feature was related to a low production of glycoprotein-staining cells in the parent NA cultures. The reduction of infectivity in NA cells of some NA supernatant fluids (and brain suspensions) by anti-nucleoprotein antibodies suggests that nucleocapsid material is, in some manner, capable of infecting NA cells. Infectivity of this virus strain in experimental mice is also related to the production of glycoprotein and may not be correlated with the degree of infection in NA cell cultures.     

G2 cell cycle arrest induced by glycopeptides isolated from the bovine cerebral cortex

The ability of glycopeptides, isolated from bovine cerebral cortex, to alter cell division was studied by cell-cycle analyses. The results showed that glycopeptides arrested baby hamster kidney (BHK)-21 cells and Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells in the G2 phase of the cell cycle. Upon removal of the growth inhibition from arrested BHK-21 cells, the mitotic index in colchicine-treated cultures increased from 5 to 40% within 6 h and the increase in mitotic activity was accompanied by a complete doubling of all arrested cells within this 6- h time period. Determination of DNA content in growth-arrested BHK-21 cells showed that growth-arrested cells contained about twice the DNA of control cell cultures. Although CHO cells treated in a like manner with growth inhibitor could not be arrested for the same length of time as BHK-21 cells (18 h vs. 72 h before initiation of escape) and to the same degree (60% of the cell population vs. 99% of BHK-21 cells), the escape kinetics of CHO cells did indicate a G2 arrest. Approximately 3.5 h after escape began, CHO cell numbers in treated cultures attained the cell numbers found in control cultures. This rapid growth phase occurring in less than 4 h indicated that the growth inhibitor induced a G2 arrest-point in CHO cells that was not lethal since the entire arrested cell population divided.     

Localization of vimentin and desmin in BHK21/C13 cells and in baby hamster kidney

Specific antibodies against the intermediate filament protein subunits, desmin and vimentin, were used to characterize the fibroblastic tissue culture cell line BHK21/C13 and the cells comprising baby hamster kidney (BHK). The BHK21/C13 cells have previously been shown to contain desmin and vimentin by biochemical techniques. The results from double immunofluorescence analysis show that both immunologically distinct intermediate filament subunit proteins are expressed simultaneously within the same BHK21/C13 cell, and that the filamentous patterns are very similar, if not superimposable even in cells treated with colchicine. There are some cells that may contain vimentin only. Double immunofluorescence on cryostat sections of BHKs and preparations of dissociated kidney cells demonstrate that the cells, most likely smooth muscle, comprising the blood vessel walls contain vimentin and desmin simultaneously. The simultaneous expression of vimentin and desmin is not a phenomenon which is restricted to tissue culture cells. Thus, the simultaneous presence of these two intermediate filament proteins within the BHK21/C13 cell may not be the result of growth in tissue culture.     

口蹄疫病毒多基因重组质粒在BHK-21细胞中的表达

利用定点突变的原理,获得包含有口蹄疫病毒P1,2A,3C及部分2B编码区的目的基因片段,KpnⅠ和XbaⅠ双酶切后,定向克隆于真核表达质粒载体pcDNA3.1（+）,经筛选、鉴定及DNA序列分析后,将重组质粒pcDNA3.1/P12X3C转染BHK-21细胞,通过双抗体夹心ELISA方法和间接免疫荧光标记方法,检测细胞中表达的口蹄疫病毒抗原。结果表明,口蹄疫病毒基因片段正确克隆到真核表达质粒载体上,重组质粒pcDNA3.1/P12X3C可在BHK-21细胞中表达FMDV目的蛋白。     

Glycolipid Content of Vesicular Stomatitis Virus Grown in Baby Hamster Kidney Cells

Vesicular stomatitis virions grown in baby hamster kidney (BHK-21-F) cells were found to contain hematoside (neuraminosyl-galactosyl-glucosyl-ceramide). This ganglioside, which was the only detectable glycolipid in the virion, is also the only glycolipid found in significant amount in BHK-21-F cells. Approximately 87% of the total neuraminic acid in the virion was found to be linked to protein and 13% to lipid.