Caenorhabditis elegans morphogenesis: the role of the cytoskeleton in elongation of the embryo

During development Caenorhabditis elegans changes from an embryo that is relatively spherical in shape to a long thin worm. This paper provides evidence that the elongation of the body is caused by the outermost layer of embryonic cells, the hypodermis, squeezing the embryo circumferentially. The hypodermal cells surround the embryo and are linked together by cellular junctions. Numerous circumferentially oriented bundles of microfilaments are present at the outer surfaces of the hypodermal cells as the embryo elongates. Elongation is associated with an apparent pressure on the internal cells of the embryo, and cytochalasin D reversibly inhibits both elongation and the increase in pressure. Circumferentially oriented microtubules also are associated with the outer membranes of the hypodermal cells during elongation. Experiments with the microtubule inhibitors colcemid, griseofulvin, and nocodazole suggest that the microtubules function to distribute across the membrane stresses resulting from microfilament contraction, such that the embryo decreases in circumference uniformly during elongation. While the cytoskeletal organization of the hypodermal cells appears to determine the shape of the embryo during elongation, an extracellular cuticle appears to maintain the body shape after elongation.     

Colcemid‐treatment of heifer oocytes enhances nuclear transfer embryonic development,establishment of pregnancy and development to term

Four experiments were designed to examine the effects of colcemid, a microtubule assembly inhibitor, on the development of bovine nuclear transfer (NT) embryos in vitro and in vivo. Recipient oocytes matured at different times were exposed to colcemid. Approximately 80–93% of the exposed oocytes, with or without the first polar body (PB1), developed obvious membrane projections. In Experiment 1, oocytes matured for either 14–15 or 16–17 hr, treated with colcemid and used as recipient cytoplasm for NT resulted in over 40% blastocyst development. In Experiment 2, oocytes matured for 16–17 hr were treated with either 0.2 or 0.4 µg/ml colcemid for 2–3 or 5–6 hr, respectively. The percentages of blastocyst development (39–42%) were not statistically different among the different colcemid treatment groups, but were both higher (P < 0.05) than the control group (30%). Colcemid concentrations and length of colcemid treatment of oocytes did not affect their ability to support NT embryo development to the blastocyst and hatched blastocyst stages. Results from Experiment 3 indicate that semi‐defined medium increases morula and blastocyst development of NT embryos derived fromcolcemid‐treated oocytes under 5% CO₂ in air atmosphere. In addition, cell numbers of blastocysts in colcemid‐treated groups were numerically higher than the control groups. After embryo transfer, higher (P < 0.05) pregnant rates were obtained from the colcemid‐treated group than the nontreated group. Five of 40 recipients (12.5%) which received embryos from colcemid‐treated oocytes delivered healthy calves, significantly higher than those recipients (3.3%) that received embryos derived from nontreated oocytes. Mol. Reprod. Dev. 76: 620–628, 2009. © 2009 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.     

Effect of colcemid on the spreading of fibroblasts in culture

The effect of colcemid upon the spreading of mouse embryo fibroblast-like cells on substrates was studied with the aid of time-lapse microcinematography and scanning electron microscopy. Two types of substrates were used: flat glass and narrow strips of glass surrounded by non-adhesive lipid film; on the latter, spreading and polarization of cells proceeded simultaneously. On glass, colcemid did not prevent transition of cells into a well-attached state; however, the time required for this transition increased considerably as compared with control cultures. Similar effects were caused by two other drugs inhibiting the formation of microtubules: colchicine and vinblastine. The intermediate stages of spreading on flat glass had several abnormal features in the colcemid-containing medium: (a) the shape of cytoplasmatic outgrowths formed by the cell was altered and their distribution became less regular; (b) partial detachment of the attached parts of the cells was very frequent; (c) the spreading of various parts of the cell was not well correlated: the central part of the cell could remain unspread long after the spreading of the peripheral part. Similar effects of colcemid were observed in experiments with cells spreading on the narrow strips of the glass. In addition, colcemid prevented stabilization of the cell surface, i.e., differentiation of the cellular edge into active and stable parts. About two-thirds of the cells attached to the narrow strips of glass were completely detached from the substrate in the course of spreading in colcemid-containing medium. The possible mechanisms of the action of colcemid on spreading are discussed and it is suggested that intracellular structures sensitive to colcemid are essential for the coordination of the reactions in various parts of the cell in the course of spreading.     

Cell cycle dependent distribution of proliferating cell nuclear antigen/cyclin and cdc2-kinase in mouse T-lymphoma cells

The aim of the present study was to investigate bromodeoxyuridine (BrdU) uptake and coordinated distribution of proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) and p34-cdc2-kinase, two important proteins involved in cell cycle regulation and progression. Flow cytometric analysis of marker proteins in freshly plated mouse T-lymphoma cells (Yac-1 cells), using fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC)-labeled specific antibodies, showed PCNA distributed throughout the cell cycle with increased intensity in S-phase. PCNA is essential for cells to cycle through S-phase and its synthesis is initiated during late G1-phase before incorporation of BrdU and remains high during active DNA replication. The intensity of PCNA fluorescence increases with the duration of incubation after plating. The cdc2-kinase was detectable in all phases of the cell cycle and the G2-M-phase appears to have the maximum concentrations. The cell cycle analysis of high dose colcemid (2 μg/ml) treated Yac-1 cells showed an aneuploid or hypodiploid population. Although the G2-M-phase seems to be the dominating population in aneuploid cells, the concentrations of cdc2-kinase were variable in this phase of cell cycle. The colcemid treatment at 25 ng/ml arrested 96% of cells in S-phase and G2-M-phase, but PCNA expression was evident in a portion of the cell population in G2-M-phase. Although cells blocked in M-phase seem to have high levels of cdc2-kinase, colcemid renders them inactive. From these data, it appears that the down regulation and/or inactivation of cdc2-kinase could be responsible for the colcemid arrest of cells in M-phase.     

Relationship between Golgi architecture and glycoprotein biosynthesis and transport in Chinese hamster ovary cells

We have investigated the effect of colcemid-induced disassembly of microtubules, which is accompanied by retraction of the endoplasmic reticulum and fragmentation of the Golgi apparatus, on glycoprotein biosynthesis and transport in Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells. CHO cells were metabolically radiolabeled with [6- 3H]galactose or [2- 3H]mannose in the presence of either 0.1% dimethyl sulfoxide or 10 microM colcemid in dimethyl sulfoxide. The fine structure of glycoprotein asparagine-linked oligosaccharide structures synthesized in the presence or absence of colcemid was analyzed by lectin affinity chromatography, ion exchange chromatography, and methylation analysis using radiolabeled glycopeptides prepared by Pronase digestion. The fractionation patterns of [3H]mannose- and [3H]galactose-labeled glycopeptides on immobilized lectins indicated that processing to complex N-linked chains and poly-N-acetyllactosamine modification were similar in control and colcemid-treated cells. In addition, colcemid treatment did not alter the extent of sialylation or the linkage position of sialic acid residues to galactose. Using a trypsin release protocol, it was also found that the transport of newly synthesized glycoproteins to the cell surface was not affected by colcemid. These results demonstrate that the morphologically altered ER and Golgi apparatus in colcemid-treated CHO cells are completely functional with respect to the rate and fidelity of protein asparagine-linked glycosylation. Furthermore, movement of newly synthesized glycoproteins to and through the ER and Golgi apparatus and their transport to the cell surface in nonpolarized cells appears to be microtubule-independent.     

Polarization of cytoplasmic fragments microsurgically detached from mouse fibroblasts

We have studied the polarity of cytoplasm organization in tiny fragments of mouse embryo fibroblasts, produced by the microsurgical separation of long processes of cytochalasin-treated cells. In the cytochalasin-free medium fragments respread and developed small lamellas at one or both of their ends. Granules, visible at phase-contrast optics, were always collected in the central part of the fragment. Lamellas of the fragment, as well as lamellar cytoplasm of parent cells, were able to clear surface receptors patched by concanavalin A and an antibody to concanavalin A. Immunofluorescence microscopy showed that the fragments always contained actin microfilament bundles parallel to the long axis of the fragment, but microtubules were present not more than for 6 hrs after detachment of the fragments from the cell bodies. Fragments detached from the cells treated with colcemid and cytochalasin simultaneously and transferred into the drug-free medium never had any microtubules. In spite of that, their behaviour was similar to the behaviour of the fragments that were produced from the control cells treated only with cytochalasin. These results show that the small fragments of mouse embryo fibroblasts are able to maintain the polar organization of cytoplasm and the microtubules are not responsible for this organization.     

Commitment to Ploidy Conversion of 3y1 Cells During Metaphase Arrest By Colcemid

Abstract. Diploid rat 3Y1 fibroblasts proliferate to a saturation density, where they are arrested with a 2N DNA content. After treatment to induce ploidy conversion, the conversion rate can be estimated by determining the fraction of cells with a 4N DNA content in the confluent culture using flow cytometry. Using this method it was found that during mitotic inhibition with colcemid, 3Y1 cells were converted to tetraploids with a high efficiency (above 80%); the optimum colcemid concentration and exposure period were 40 ng/ml and 8 hr, respectively. When metaphase cells were reseeded with 40 ng/ml of colcemid, they delayed anchorage to a dish; 6 hr was required for complete adhesion (in the absence of colcemid only 1 hr was required). When reseeded metaphase cells were exposed to 40 ng/ml of colcemid for 5 hr followed by its removal, a greater fraction of the cells anchored to the substratum were converted to tetraploids, whereas most of the floating cells were not. A greater fraction of the anchored cells had formed nuclei, whereas most of the floating cells preserved condensed metaphase chromosomes. These results indicate that the cells which have formed nuclear structure without chromosome separation during mitotic inhibition are irreversibly committed to ploidy conversion, with restoration of anchorage.     

Commitment to ploidy conversion of 3Y1 cells during metaphase arrest by colcemid

Diploid rat 3Y1 fibroblasts proliferate to a saturation density, where they are arrested with a 2N DNA content. After treatment to induce ploidy conversion, the conversion rate can be estimated by determining the fraction of cells with a 4N DNA content in the confluent culture using flow cytometry. Using this method it was found that during mitotic inhibition with colcemid, 3Y1 cells were converted to tetraploids with a high efficiency (above 80%); the optimum colcemid concentration and exposure period were 40 ng/ml and 8 hr, respectively. When metaphase cells were reseeded with 40 ng/ml of colcemid, they delayed anchorage to a dish; 6 hr was required for complete adhesion (in the absence of colcemid only 1 hr was required). When reseeded metaphase cells were exposed to 40 ng/ml of colcemid for 5 hr followed by its removal, a greater fraction of the cells anchored to the substratum were converted to tetraploids, whereas most of the floating cells were not. A greater fraction of the anchored cells had formed nuclei, whereas most of the floating cells preserved condensed metaphase chromosomes. These results indicate that the cells which have formed nuclear structure without chromosome separation during mitotic inhibition are irreversibly committed to ploidy conversion, with restoration of anchorage.     

Cytoplasmic microtubule assembly-disassembly from endogenous tubulin in a Brij-lysed cell model

We studied the characteristics of cytoplasmic microtubule reassembly from endogenous tubulin pools in situ using a Brij 58-lysed 3T3 cell system. Cells that were pretreated in vivo with colcemid retain endogenous tubulin in the depolymerized state after lysis. When lysed cells were removed from colcemid block and incubated in GTP-PIPES reassembly buffer at pH 6.9, microtubules repolymerized randomly throughout the cytoplasm, appeared to be free-ended and were generally not associated with the centrosomes. However, tubulin could be induced to polymerize in an organized manner from the centrosomes by increasing the pH to 7.6 in the presence of ATP and cAMP. Microtubules polymerized in ATP had significantly longer lengths than those assembled in GTP or UTP. When cells not treated with colcemid were lysed, the integrity of the cytoplasmic microtubule complex (CMTC) was maintained during subsequent incubation in reassembly buffer. However, in contrast to unlysed, living cells, microtubules of lysed cells were stable to colchicine. A significant fraction of the CMTC was stable to cold- induced disassembly whereas microtubules reassembled after lysis were extremely cold-sensitive. When cells not treated with colcemid were lysed and incubated in millimolar Ca++, microtubules depolymerized from their distal ends and a much reduced CMTC was observed. Ca++ reversal with EGTA rapidly resulted in a reformation of the CMTC apparently by elongation of Ca++ resistant microtubules.     

Selection of mitotic Chinese hamster ovary cells from microcarriers

We describe a method of collecting large quantities of mitotic cells from a population of Chinese hamster ovary cells which were exponentially growing on positively charged dextran microcarriers in suspension culture. These cells were treated for 2.5 h with colcemid, and mitotic cells were harvested from the oicrocarriers by increasing spinner velocity. A yield of 2–3% of the total population was obtained using this method; of the cells collected, 85–95% were in metaphase as determined by microscopic inspection. Both synchrony and cell viability were excellent in the selected population.     

Rapid rate of tubulin dissociation from microtubules in the mitotic spindle in vivo measured by blocking polymerization with colchicine

At metaphase, the amount of tubulin assembled into spindle microtubules is relatively constant; the rate of tubulin association equals the rate of dissociation. To measure the intrinsic rate of dissociation, we microinjected high concentrations of colchicine, or its derivative colcemid, into sea urchin embryos at metaphase to bind the free tubulin, thereby rapidly blocking polymerization. The rate of microtubule disassembly was measured from a calibrated video signal by the change in birefringent retardation (BR). After an initial delay after injection of colchicine or colcemid at final intracellular concentrations of 0.1-3.0 mM, BR decreased rapidly and simultaneously throughout the central spindle and aster. Measured BR in the central half-spindle decreased exponentially to 10% of its initial value within a characteristic period of approximately 20 s; the rate constant, k = 0.11 +/- 0.023 s-1, and the corresponding half-time, t 1/2, of BR decay was approximately 6.5 +/- 1.1 s in this concentration range. Below 0.1 mM colchicine or colcemid, the rate at which BR decreased was concentration dependent. Electron micrographs showed that the rapid decrease in BR corresponded to the disappearance of nonkinetochore microtubules; kinetochore fiber microtubules were differentially stable. As a control, lumicolchicine, which does not bind to tubulin with high affinity, was shown to have no effect on spindle BR at intracellular concentrations of 0.5 mM. If colchicine and colcemid block only polymerization, then the initial rate of tubulin dissociation from nonkinetochore spindle microtubules is in the range of 180-992 dimers per second. This range of rates is based on k = 11% of the initial polymer per second and an estimate from electron micrographs that the average length of a half-spindle microtubule is 1- 5.5 micron. Much slower rates of tubulin association are predicted from the characteristics of end-dependent microtubule assembly measured previously in vitro when the association rate constant is corrected for the lower rate of tubulin diffusion in the embryo cytoplasm. Various possibilities for this discrepancy are discussed.     

Delayed disruption of the telomeric links between chromosomes in experimentally induced cells with micronuclei exposed to 5-bromodeoxyuridine in the 1st S period after colcemid administration

Under a long-term administration of colcemid in the Chinese hamster cell culture some cells with micronuclei are seen to form. In the case of co-treatment with colcemid and 5-bromodeoxyuridine (5-BrdU) at metaphases of the first division of cells with micronuclei polycentric chromosomes were observed. These polycentric chromosomes occur due to delayed disruption of telomeric links, previously existing in the interphase. During colcemid treatment the cells pass through two S-periods: one in mononuclear cells, the other in cells with micronuclei. This phenomenon was tested according to the frequency of metaphases with dicentrics after 5-BrdU-treatment of cells at the first or second S-period or during the two cycles of chromosome replication. The 5-BrdU treatment during the first cycle or two cycles of replication resulted in the same frequency of cells with dicentrics--about 50%. The treatment with colcemid alone during two cycles of replication and administration 5-BrdU at the second S-period results in a considerably lower amount (%) of cells with dicentrics--about 10%. Thus, the delayed disruption of telomeric links between chromosomes may occur under the treatment with 5-BrdU at the first S-period after colcemid administration. It is also concluded that this phenomenon can be reproduced in cell with micronuclei when 5-BrdU is incorporated differentially in the sister chromatids.     

c-Myc Overexpression Uncouples DNA Replication from Mitosis

c-myc has been shown to regulate G(1)/S transition, but a role for c-myc in other phases of the cell cycle has not been identified. Exposure of cells to colcemid activates the mitotic spindle checkpoint and arrests cells transiently in metaphase. After prolonged colcemid exposure, the cells withdraw from mitosis and enter a G(1)-like state. In contrast to cells in G(1), colcemid-arrested cells have decreased G(1) cyclin-dependent kinase activity and show hypophosphorylation of the retinoblastoma protein. We have found that overexpression of c-myc causes colcemid-treated human and rodent cells to become either apoptotic or polyploid by replicating DNA without chromosomal segregation. Although c-myc-induced polyploidy is not inhibited by wild-type p53 in immortalized murine fibroblasts, overexpression of c-myc in primary fibroblasts resulted in massive apoptosis of colcemid-treated cells. We surmise that additional genes are altered in immortalized cells to suppress the apoptotic pathway and allow c-myc-overexpressing cells to progress forward in the presence of colcemid. Our results also suggest that c-myc induces DNA rereplication in this G(1)-like state by activating CDK2 activity. These observations indicate that activation of c-myc may contribute to the genomic instability commonly found in human cancers.     

Comparison of cellular effects of phomopsin and colcemid in Chinese hamster cells in vitro

The effects of the fungal toxin phomopsin A, which produces the disease lupinosis in farm animals fed on lupins infected with Phomopsis leptostromiformis, were studied in cultures of Chinese hamster cells. The results show that phomopsin A inhibits proliferation by blocking cells in metaphase, but that higher concentrations are needed than for colcemid, another mitotic poison. As with colcemid, there is an increase in both micronuclei formation and DNA synthesis. Unlike colcemid, phomopsin is also clastogenic.     

Aneuploidy induction in human fibroblasts: comparison with results in Syrian hamster fibroblasts

The susceptibility of human fibroblast cells in culture to neoplastic transformation by chemical carcinogens is appreciably lower than that of rodent fibroblasts. We have proposed that a key step in the neoplastic progression of Syrian hamster embryo fibroblasts is the induction of aneuploidy by carcinogens. It is possible that the different sensitivity to neoplastic transformation of Syrian hamster versus human cells is due to a difference in genetic stability following treatment with chemicals inducing aneuploidy. Therefore, we measured the induction of numerical chromosome changes in normal human fibroblasts and Syrian hamster fibroblasts by 4 specific aneuploidogens. Dose- and time-dependent studies were performed. Nondisjunction, resulting in aneuploid cells with a near-diploid chromosome number, in up to 14-28% of the hamster cells was induced by colcemid (0.1 microgram/ml), vincristine (30 ng/ml), diethylstilbestrol (DES) (1 microgram/ml) or 17 beta-estradiol (10 micrograms/ml). In contrast, human cells displayed far fewer aneuploid (near-diploid) cells, i.e., 8% following treatment with colcemid (0.02 micrograms/ml) or vincristine (10 ng/ml) and only 3% following treatment with DES (6 micrograms/ml) or 17 beta-estradiol (20 micrograms/ml). The doses at which the maximum effect was observed are given. Treatment of human cells induced a higher incidence of cells with a near-tetraploid chromosome number, which was similar to the level observed in treated hamster cells except at the highest doses. These results indicate that human cells respond differently from hamster cells to agents that induce aneuploidy. In particular, nondisjunction yielding aneuploid human fibroblasts with a near-diploid chromosome number was less frequent. The magnitude of the observed species differences varied with different chemicals. The difference in aneuploidy induction may contribute, in part, to species differences in susceptibility of fibroblasts to neoplastic transformation.     

Colcemid inhibits the rejoining of the nucleotide excision repair of UVC-induced DNA damages in Chinese hamster ovary cells

In our previous study, we found that colcemid, an inhibitor of mitotic spindle, promotes UVC-induced apoptosis in Chinese hamster ovary cells (CHO.K1). In this study, a brief treatment of colcemid on cells after but not before UV irradiation could synergistically reduce the cell viability. Although colcemid did not affect the excision of UV-induced DNA damages such as [6-4] photoproducts or cyclobutane pyrimidine dimers, colcemid accumulated the DNA breaks when it was added to cells following UV-irradiation. This colcemid effect required nucleotide excision repair (NER) since the same accumulation of DNA breaks was barely or not detected in two NER defective strains of CHO cells, UV5 or UV24. Furthermore, the colcemid effect was not due to semi-conservative DNA replication or mitosis since the colcemid-caused accumulation of DNA breaks was also seen in non-replicating cells. Moreover, colcemid inhibited rejoining of DNA breaks accumulated by hydroxyurea/cytosine arabinoside following UV irradiation. Nevertheless, colcemid did not affect the unscheduled DNA synthesis as assayed by the incorporation of bromodeoxyuridine. Taken together, our results suggest that colcemid might inhibit the step of ligation of NER pathways.     

Cytotoxic effects of colcemid or high specific activity tritiated thymidine on clonogenic cell survival in B6CF1 mice

High specific activity tritiated thymidine (HSA-[3H]TdR) and colcemid were given in cytotoxic doses and regimens to B6CF1/Anl mice. The number of cells per intestinal crypt was reduced by the S-phase-specific (HSA-[3H]TdR and the metaphase blocking and cytotoxic effect of multiple injections of colcemid. In 50-day-old mice, the cytotoxic effect of multiple injections of colcemid reduced both the number of cells per crypt and the clonogenic cell survival. However, the number of surviving intestinal clonogenic or stem cells, assayed by the microcolony technique, did not change in 110--130-day old mice. These data suggest that most of the cells at risk from these cytotoxic agents are not clonogenic in adult 110--130-day old mice but are the cells in amplification division. However, since the stem cells of young mice are more susceptible to colcemid, they are apparently in a more rapid cell cycle than those of older mice. The clonogenic cell survival measured in 110--130-day old mice after a single radiation dose of 14 Gy (1400 rad) responded in a non-linear way to increasing time of continuous colcemid cytotoxicity. These data suggest that the intestinal stem cells can respond to amplification compartment cell death by a shortening of their cell cycle and thus, over time, the number of stem cells at risk to colcemid cytotoxicity increases.     

Polarity of kinetochore microtubules in Chinese hamster ovary cells after recovery from a colcemid block

The polarity of kinetochore microtubules was determined in a system for which kinetochore-initiated microtubule assembly has been demonstrated. Chinese hamster ovary cells were treated with 0.3 micrograms/ml colcemid for 8 h and then released from the block. Prior to recovery, microtubules were completely absent from the cells. The recovery was monitored using light and electron microscopy to establish that the cells progress through anaphase and that the kinetochore fibers are fully functional. Since early stages of recovery are characterized by short microtubule segments that terminate in the kinetochore fibrous corona rather than on the outer disk, microtubule polarity was determined at later stages of recovery when longer kinetochore bundles had formed, allowing us to establish unambiguously the spatial relationship between microtubules, kinetochores, and chromosomes. The cells were lysed in a detergent mixture containing bovine brain tubulin under conditions that allowed the formation of polarity-revealing hooks. 20 kinetochore bundles were assayed for microtubule polarity in either thick or thin serial sections. We found that 95% of the decorated kinetochore microtubules had the same polarity and that, according to the hook curvature, the plus ends of the microtubules were at the kinetochores. Hence, the polarity of kinetochore microtubules in Chinese hamster ovary cells recovering from a colcemid block is the same as in normal untreated cells. This result suggests that microtubule polarity is likely to be important for spindle function since kinetochore microtubules show the same polarity, regardless of the pattern of spindle formation.     

Effects of colcemid on cavitation during mouse blastocoele formation

In this investigation we studied whether mouse blastocoele formation is sensitive to colcemid, an anti-microtubular drug. Morulae on the verge of cavitating were observed by phase contrast microscopy before, during and after exposure to colcemid. Control morulae contained many refractile vesicles, which were initially dispersed and which subsequently became aligned under contiguous cell borders. Then vesicles diminished in number and were replaced by refractile furrows delineating contiguous cell borders, with cavitation following shortly thereafter. In 90% of morulate treated with colcemid (0.01 μg/ml), vesicle alignment, furrow formation and cavitation were prevented. This effect of colcemid was still reversible in 50% of morulate treated with colcemid for 12 h and then returned to control medium. When the effect of colcemid treatment on cell number was compared with that on cavitation, we found that (1) both the incidence of cavitation and cell number per blastocyst were dependent on the length of colcemid treatment; and (2) cavitation was more sensitive to colcemid treatment performed at the morula stage than at earlier stages of development, whereas cell number per blastocyst showed no stage-dependent sensitivity to colcemid treatment. These results are consistent with these inferences: (1) cavitation may involve intact microtubules; and (2) microtubules participating in cavitation may differ from microtubules participating in mitosis in sensitivity to colcemid.     

Colcemid inhibits the rejoining of the nucleotide excision repair of UVC-induced DNA damages in Chinese hamster ovary cells

In our previous study, we found that colcemid, an inhibitor of mitotic spindle, promotes UVC-induced apoptosis in Chinese hamster ovary cells (CHO.K1). In this study, a brief treatment of colcemid on cells after but not before UV irradiation could synergistically reduce the cell viability. Although colcemid did not affect the excision of UV-induced DNA damages such as [6–4] photoproducts or cyclobutane pyrimidine dimers, colcemid accumulated the DNA breaks when it was added to cells following UV-irradiation. This colcemid effect required nucleotide excision repair (NER) since the same accumulation of DNA breaks was barely or not detected in two NER defective strains of CHO cells, UV5 or UV24. Furthermore, the colcemid effect was not due to semi-conservative DNA replication or mitosis since the colcemid-caused accumulation of DNA breaks was also seen in non-replicating cells. Moreover, colcemid inhibited rejoining of DNA breaks accumulated by hydroxyurea/cytosine arabinoside following UV irradiation. Nevertheless, colcemid did not affect the unscheduled DNA synthesis as assayed by the incorporation of bromodeoxyuridine. Taken together, our results suggest that colcemid might inhibit the step of ligation of NER pathways.