Donor/recipient interactions affecting plasmid transfer amongStreptomyces species: A conjugative plasmid will mobilize nontransferable plasmids in soil

Streptomyces parvulus was used as the recipient for plasmid pIJ303 and pIJ211, two conjugative plasmids derived from the self-transmissible plasmid pIJ101. One of the resulting transconjugantS. parvulus strains containing plasmid pIJ303 was used withS. lividans to evaluate the effects of the host strain on the frequency of pIJ303 transfer betweenStreptomyces species. Only 30% ofS. parvulus cells acquired plasmid pIJ303 in crosses in whichS. lividans was the donor, whereas 100% ofS. lividans cells acquired the plasmid whenS. parvulus was the donor. This indicates that the frequency of transfer of the conjugative plasmid was determined by the recipient. The other resulting transconjugantS. parvulus strain containing plasmid pIJ211 was evaluated for its ability to mobilize the nonconjugative plasmid pIJ702 fromS. lividans, on agar and in sterile soil. AfterS. lividans containing pIJ702 was crossed on agar and in sterile soil withS. parvulus containing pIJ211, recombinantS. parvulus colonies carrying pIJ702 and expressing pigments characteristic of both species were recovered, from both agar and soil. Although a large percentage ofS. parvulus transconjugants lost pIJ211 during incubation in soil, the mobilization of pIJ702 fromS. lividans intoS. parvulus still occurred. Plasmid integration into the chromosome of the donor and the transconjugant was evaluated by Southern blot hybridization. Hybridization of plasmid pIJ303, with chromosomal DNA fromS. lividans andS. parvulus transconjugants, using biotinylated DNA, indicated that no integration had occurred. Genetic exchange betweenStreptomyces species also occurred in a liquid medium. The finding of plasmid mobilization in soil is significant. It demonstrates that genetic exchange in the environment can occur between released genetically engineeredStreptomyces species and nativeStreptomyces species that contain conjugative plasmids.Paper of the Idaho Agricultural Experiment Station.     

Specificity of cultured insect tissue cells for bioassay of entomocidal protein fromBacillus thuringiensis

Summary Cultured tissue cells from lepidopteran and dipteran sources displayed an order-specific response to entomocidal protein from crystals ofBacillus thuringiensis. Protein isolated from crystals ofB. thuringiensis subsp.kurstaki was effective against cells of the spruce budworm (Choristoneura fumiferana) and the tobacco hornworm (Manduca sexta), but was inactive against both mosquito cell lines tested (Aedes aegypti andAnopheles gambiae). Conversely, protein from inclusion bodies ofB. thuringiensis subsp.israelensis was fully active only against the mosquito cell lines but displayed reduced (four- to seven-fold) toxicity for the lepidopteran cell lines. One exception to this pattern of specificity was observed with aPlodia interpunctella cell line, which failed to respond to either crystal protein preparation. The moth toxin was stable at 4° C for months, whereas the mosquito toxin was susceptible to proteolytic degradation and was unstable for periods longer than 2 wk.     

Cell lines derived from mouse neural crest are representative of cells at various stages of differentiation

In order to study mammalian neural crest differentiation in vitro, a series of clonal neural crest (NC) cell lines have been generated by infection of migrating mouse neural crest cells with two recombinant retroviruses containing either the c-myc or N-myc proto-oncogenes. Many cell lines were generated which could be subdivided into three groups based on their appearance in culture. Eleven of these cell lines representative of each of the morphological groups were characterized for the expression of six antigenic markers expressed by neural cells. In addition, mRNA was prepared from these cell lines and analyzed for the expression of a number of neural specific genes. These analyses show that the cell lines are representative of the following cell types: (1) neural crest-like cell lines that do not differentiate in 10% serum; (2) progenitor cell lines, some of which can partially differentiate in culture; and (3) mature neuronal cell lines or bipotential cell lines. Southern blot analysis of DNA from these lines indicated that they have multiple integration sites for the provirus and suggest that phenotypically different cell types have arisen from a single cell. None of the cell lines showed any proliferative or morphological response to nerve growth factor (NGF), whereas over two-thirds of the lines showed both marked proliferative and morphological responses to fibroblast growth factor (FGF). These data indicate that we have generated a range of cell lines representative of a spectrum of mouse neural crest derivatives.     

Isolation and characterization of high endothelial cell lines derived from mouse lymph nodes

Summary Two long-term cultured cell lines were established from BALB/c mouse axillary and cervical lymph nodes that exhibited a combination of functional, morphological, and phenotypic characteristics consistent only with high endothelial venule cells. Spleen lymphocytes selectively bound and migrated across the cell lines. On Matrigel, these cell lines formed tubules with lumens, a characteristic unique to endothelial cells. Morphologically the cells were 20–30 μm in diameter and exhibited contact inhibition. The cells were not myeloid in origin because they lacked sodium fluoride-inhibitable nonspecific esterase activity, myeloperoxidase activity, and F4/80 antigen. The cell line phenotypes were compared to high endothelial venule (HEV) cells in tissue sections. HEV cells in lymph node tissue sections expressed endoglin, PECAM-1, ICAM-1, VCAM-1, laminin, fibronectin, collagen IV, H2K^d, MECA 79, MECA 325, and vWF. The cell lines expressed endoglin, VCAM-1, fibronectin, and H2K^d. The cell line derived from cervical lymph nodes also expressed laminin and H2D^d. Neither cell line expressed collagen IV, IA^d, ICAM-1, ICAM-2, dendritic cell antigen, or PECAM-1. They also did not express MECA antigens or intracellular vWF, consistent with reports of many cultured endothelial cells. To further substantiate cell line identification, antiserum generated against the cell lines bound specifically to HEV cells in frozen lymph node tissue sections and to both of the lymph node-derived cell lines but not control cell lines. Thus, the lymph node derived-cell lines expressed molecules found on HEV cellsin vivo and most importantly retained the functions of tubule formation, lymphocyte adhesion, and promotion of lymphocyte migration.     

Cell lines, Md108 and Md66, from the hemocytes of Malacosoma disstria (Lepidoptera) display aspects of plasma-free innate non-self activities

The innate non-self response systems of the deciduous tree pest, the forest tent caterpillar, Malacosoma disstria has been documented by us in terms of in vitro and in vivo reactions towards the Gram-positive nonpathogenic bacterium, Bacillus subtilis and Gram-negative pathogenic microbe, Xenorhabdus nematophila and their respective surface antigens, lipopoteichoic acids (LTA) and lipopolysaccharides (LPS). These studies, often conducted in whole and diluted hemolymph, preclude examination of plasma-free cellular (hemocyte) responses. Plasma-free hemocytes as primary cultures are difficult to obtain. The floating cell line Md66 and attached cell line Md108 from M. disstria hemocytes were examined as a model for plasma-free M. disstria hemocyte non-self responses. Herein, it was established that although both lines differed from each other and from the primary hemocyte cultures of M. disstria in growth parameters, cell composition and sizes both cell lines displayed granular cell-like (GL) cells and plasmatocyte-like (PL) cells according to morphological criteria and to some extent antigenic similarities based on labeling with anti-Chrysodeixis includens hemocyte monoclonal antibodies. Hemocyte-specific neuroglian-like protein was detected on cells of both cell lines and in the primary hemocyte cultures albeit with staining patterns differing according to culture and cell types, confluency levels and cell–cell adhesion. Both cell lines bound B. subtilis and X. nematophila, the reaction extent varying with the cell line and its cell types. LPS damaged both cell types in the two cell lines whereas LTA enhanced the adhesion of Md66 GL cells to flask surfaces followed by PL cell adhesion. PL cells of both lines, like the primary cultures, phagocytosed FITC-labeled B. subtilis; only Md108 GL cells phagocytosed B. subtilis. In either case phagocytosis was always less in frequency and intensity than the primary cultures. Proteins released from the cell lines differed in pattern and magnitude but contained bacterial binding proteins that enhanced differential bacterial adhesion to both cell types in both cell lines: the GL cells both cultures, and those of granular cells in primary cultures, were more involved than the primary plasmatocytes and PL cells. Only Md66 cells possessed lysozyme and both cell types of both lines contained phenoloxidase. Neither enzyme type was released during early phase reaction with the bacteria. LPS inhibited phenoloxidase activity. The similarities and differences between the lines and primary cultures make Md66 and Md108 useful for the systematic examination of plasma-free cellular non-self reactions.     

Unrestricted lineage differentiation of parthenogenetic ES cells

 The developmental potential of parthenogenetic embryonic stem (P-ES) cells was studied in teratomas and mouse chimaeras. Teratomas derived from P-ES cells contained a mixture of tissue types with variable proportions of specific tissues. Three of the eight P-ES cell lines analysed showed high proportions of striated muscle in teratomas, similar to teratomas from normal embryos or ES cell lines derived from fertilised embryos (F-ES cells). Our study also revealed that one P-ES cell line showed little lineage restriction in injection chimaeras. Descendants of the P-ES cells contributed to most tissues of chimaeric fetuses in patterns similar to F-ES cells. Normal colonisation of muscle, liver and pancreas was found in adult chimaeras. P-ES cells also showed similar haematopoietic differentiation and maturation as F-ES cells. However, extensive P-ES cell contribution was associated with a reduction in body size. These findings suggest that, while P-ES cells display more extensive developmental potential than the cells of parthenogenetic embryos from which they were derived, they only retained properties related to the presence of the maternal genome. To elucidate the molecular basis for the lack of lineage restriction during in vivo differentiation, the expression of four imprinted genes, H19, Igf2r, Igf2 and Snrpn was compared among five P-ES and two F-ES cell lines. Expression levels of these genes varied among the different ES cell lines, both in undifferentiated ES cells and in embryoid bodies.     

Development and Characterization of a Nonmorphogenetic Cell Line of Wheat (Triticum aestivum)

This study was conducted to compare characteristics of a wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) cell line to those of the maize (Zea mays L.) black Mexican sweet (BMS) cell line and to compare protoplasts isolated from suspension cells of these cell lines. The wheat cell line was established from immature-embryo derived callus of the experimental line ‘ND7532’ and was conditioned for growth in suspension culture. For both cell lines, measurements of packed cell volume (PCV), fresh weight (FW), and dry weight (DW) were taken at 3 day intervals from suspension cultures. Measurements of FW of calluses cultured from suspension cells of both cell lines were taken at 6 day intervals. The morphogenetic potential of the wheat ND7532 cell line was tested in both callus and suspension cultures using media promoting regeneration and/or organogenesis. Growth rates of ND7532 cells in suspension culture were comparable to those of BMS cells. However, relative growth rates of calluses recovered from ND7532 suspension cells were slower than those of calluses recovered from BMS suspension cells. The ND7532 cell line has very limited morphogenetic potential and has been maintained as rapidly growing callus tissue for 11 years. Yields of protoplasts from suspension cells of the two cell lines were comparable, though ND7532 protoplasts were typically smaller. The wheat cell line has is now designated ND7532-NM (nonmorphogenetic) and is available for cellular and molecular biology research.     

Hybrid cell lines Arabidopsis thaliana + Brassica campestris: No evidence for specific chromosome elimination

Summary Protoplasts from callus tissue of Arabidopsis thaliana and from leaves of Brassica campestris were fused using the PEG-high pH-high Ca⁺⁺-technique. Single dividing fusion products were isolated mechanically and cultured further in 1 l microdroplets. 31 cell lines each originating from a single fusion event have been obtained. Cytological analysis of 6 cell lines was conducted 4–7 months after isolation. All metaphases examined contained chromosomes of both species. Both Arabidopsis and Brassica specific chromosomes were still retained in cells of 7 month old cultures. Reconstituted di- and multiconstrictional chromosomes were also observed. Biochemical analysis of 12 cell lines was performed in 6–7-month old cultures. Electrophoresis on PAG and specific staining for esterase, lactate dehydrogenase, and peroxidase activities revealed isozymes of both parents to be present in all cell lines. The data obtained are interpreted as evidence for retention and functional activity in hybrid cells of specific chromosomes from each species for at least 7 months of culture.     

Cloning of transgenic tobacco BY-2 cells; an efficient method to analyse and reduce high natural heterogeneity of transgene expression

Background  

Phenotypic characterization of transgenic cell lines, frequently used in plant biology studies, is complicated because transgene expression in individual cells is often heterogeneous and unstable. To identify the sources and to reduce this heterogeneity, we transformed tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum L.) BY-2 cells with a gene encoding green fluorescent protein (GFP) using Agrobacterium tumefaciens, and then introduced a simple cloning procedure to generate cell lines derived from the individual transformed cells. Expression of the transgene was monitored by analysing GFP fluorescence in the cloned lines and also in lines obtained directly after transformation.     

Porphyra cell cultures: isolation,growth and polysaccharide production

A range of cell lines was isolated fromPorphyra umbilicalis L. (Rhodophyta) tissue using a variety of methods, the most successful involving exposure to a limpet acetone powder enzyme extract for 24 h, homogenisation and filtration through a series of polyester meshes. All established lines grew as 0.1–5 mm diameter aggregates in liquid culture; most were stable and have been grown in shake-flask or air-lift culture for periods in excess of 1 yr without reverting to the foliose growth form. An investigation of the medium used to grow these lines indicated that it was not nitrogen-deficient and that the sodium chloride concentration was optimal. The addition of an organic buffer increased the final cell yield. None of these cell lines grew heterotrophically in medium supplemented with a range of fixed carbon sources. The infrared spectra of polysaccharides isolated fromPorphyra aggregates and from tissue grown under identical conditions indicated that the structures of the two isolates were analogous.Presented at the XIIIth International Seaweed Symposium, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada, August 1989.     

Isolation and characterization of clonal vascular smooth muscle cell lines from spontaneously hypertensive and normotensive rat aortas

Summary Vascular smooth muscle cells were isolated from the aortas of spontaneously hypertensive rats and normotensive Wistar-Kyoto rats by use of the explant method on collagen gels. Clonal cell lines derived from these enriched populations possessed ultrastructural characteristics of vascular smooth muscle cells in culture; they grew in hill and valley configuration, immunostained with the muscle actin antibody HHF35, and failed to react with von Willebrand Factor VIII antibody. Fourteen clonal cell lines were characterized for growth and ligand binding characteristics. Large variations in growth rate and cell density at saturation were exhibited by clones of both strains. Similar variability was noted for specific binding of endothelial 1 and Sar¹,Ile⁸-angiotensin II to their receptors, indicating considerable phenotypic heterogeneity among the clonal cell lines. Six selected clones were further characterized for angiotensin II receptor linkage to G proteins. Cells of both strains exhibited comparable affinity shifts in the presence of GTPγS. These clonal cell lines should be useful for a variety of analyses of the comparative biology of aortic cells. It is possible that the diversity of phenotypic traits exhibited by these clones reflects the heterogeneity of vascular smooth muscle tissue found in vivo.     

IN VITRO PROLIFERATION OF MOUSE LYMPHOBLASTOID CELL LINES: GROWTH MODULATION BY VARIOUS POPULATIONS OF ADHERENT CELLS

The in vitro growth pattern of a number of mouse lymphoblastoid tumour cell lines was modified in the presence of adherent cell layers from various sources. The AVRij-1 and ST-4b cell lines exhibited a concentration—dependent growth pattern, i.e., they would only grow well when seeded at high starting cell concentrations. Better growth of these cells from low cell concentrations was observed in the presence of adherent cell layers from syngeneic or allogeneic bone marrow. Adherent cell layers derived from mouse spleen and pleural or peritoneal cavity could also promote the growth of the above tumour cells, but in a narrower range of cell concentrations and to a lower extent. Moreover, confluent adherent layers from the pleural and peritoneal cavities completely inhibited the growth of AVRij-1 and ST-4b cells, while adherent cell layers from the bone marrow did not inhibit growth at any cell concentration tested. The in vitro growth of concentration—independent cell lines was also affected by the presence of adherent cells from the bone marrow. Under syngeneic conditions, a slight increase in the growth of the ‘null’ or pre-B lymphoma cell line ABLS-8.1 was observed. On the other hand, the growth of tumour cells expressing more differentiated properties, such as the thymus T lymphoma tumour cell line ST-1.3 and the plasma cell tumour MPC-11.45.6.2.4, was inhibited in the presence of syngeneic bone marrow derived adherent cell layers. This inhibition was more pronounced under allogeneic conditions. Growth inhibition was also observed when concentration—independent cell lines were co-cultured with adherent cells from the pleural and peritoneal cavities. Thus, adherent cell layers from non-haemopoietic sources inhibited the growth of all cell lines tested. On the other hand, adherent cells from the bone marrow had a differential effect on growth of lymphoblastoid tumour cell lines. This depended on the in vitro growth properties of each tumour cell line and on some additional specific tumour cell properties. The latter could relate to the differentiation stage characterizing each tumour cell line. The culture method described here may serve as a model system for studies on interaction of leukaemic cell and the haemopoietic microenvironment.     

In vitro proliferation and differentiation of hemic precursor cells from marrow and blood of naturally chimeric marmosets

Marmosets are unique in that they are “always” blood cell chimeras. When the nucleated cells from the bone marrow and from the peripheral blood of marmosets were incubated in the appropriate culture fluid they were shown capable of extensive proliferation in vitro. Two patterns of cellular proliferation, adherent and nonadherent, occurred in the same culture vessel. Repeated passage of nonadherent cells in RPMI 1640 medium supplemented with calf serum resulted in relatively long-term fluid bulk cultures showing myelocytic differentiation and megakaryocytic maturation. As myelocytic maturation became the predominant feature of cultures mitoses of the precursors diminished. About half of 41 marrow-derived cultures underwent extensive proliferation lasting about two months, as evidenced by an increasing cellularity and the presence of dividing cells. Such active growth occurred in one culture for over 120 days. The natural blood-cell chimerism of marmosets was demonstrated in vitro by cytogenetic analyses of metaphases from four relatively long term marrow cultures. The ratios of male and female cells remained either relatively stable or changed slowly with time in culture. Cells having both diploid and polyploid number of chromosomes were identified male or female, suggesting chimerism in myelocytic and megakaryocytic series. Marmoset lymph node and spleen cells proliferated as lymphoid cultures for various lengths of time up to five weeks but these cells did not differentiate into hemic cell lines. Attempts to culture human and rodent hemic tissue by the procedure used on marmoset tissue were unsuccessful.     

Replication ofAutographa californica baculovirus (AcMNPV) in a coleopteran cell line

Summary A coleopteran cell line (AGE) derived from the cotton boll weevilAnthonomus grandis supported replication ofAutographa californica multiple nuclear polyhedrosis virus (AcMNPV). The titer of extracellular virus (ECV) and the number of occlusion bodies (OB) produced in AGE cells were approximately equal to those produced by aTrichoplusia ni cell line (TN-CL1), and the OB produced by both cell lines were equally infectious forT. ni larvae. The identity of the AGE cell line was established by chromosome and isoenzyme analyses.     

Characterization of a new continuous cell line from the flood water mosquito,Aedes vexans

A new cell line, UM-AVE1, was established from embryos of the mosquito Aedes vexans. Banding patterns for the isozymes lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), malate dehydrogenase (MDH), isocitrate dehydrogenase (IDH), xanthine dehydrogenase (XDH), and esterases were compared with those of larval Aedes vexans tissues as well as those of four other mosquito cell lines and one moth cell line. Karyotype analyses confirmed that the dipteran cell lines were not contaminated with lepidopteran cells, because in all mosquito lines the modal number of chromosomes was 6 (=2n) or 7. Isozyme electrophoresis established a specific profile for each cell line. Two isozymes present in UM-AVE1 (LDH, IDH) were not detected in larvae; this could be a reflection of the different stages used for cell line isolation and enzyme analysis, or lability of sample preparations. It is significant that extracts from UM-AVE1 cells and Aedes vexans larvae had an identical double band for XDH, while all other cell lines examined exhibited only a single band.     

Isolation and identification of 20-hydroxyecdysone from a lepidopteran continuous cell line

Extracts of three continuous cell lines from the cabbage looper, Trichoplusia ni, were assayed for the presence of ecdysteroids. While no evidence of ecdysteroids was present in the extracts of the ovarian (TN-368) or embryonic (IPLB-TN-R²) cell lines, radioimmunoassays on extracts of media and extracts of cell pellets from imaginal disc cell cultures (IAL-TND1) were positive. The immunoreactive material from both cells and media co-migrated with a 20-hydroxyecdysone standard on reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). The immunoreactive fractions from the cell extract were chromatographed on silica HPLC and subjected to mass spectral analysis. Both of these analyses indicated that the unknown compound was 20-hydroxyecdysone. Radioimmunoassay indicated up to 28 ng of ecdysone equivalents in cells (3.75 x 10⁷ cells) from 50 ml of IAL-TND1 cultures, which is equivalent to 120 ng of 20-hydroxyecdysone based on relative reactivity of the antiserum used in this study. This report presents the first evidence of 20-hydroxyecdysone production by a continuous insect cell line and also the first to show that cells from imaginal discs are capable of ecdysteroid synthesis.     

N-cadherin mediates angiogenesis by regulating monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 expression via PI3K/Akt signaling in prostate cancer cells

Over the past decade, evidence continues to mount showing that N-cadherin is a critical protein in cancer progression and metastasis. In the present study, we evaluated the expression of N-cadherin in human prostate cancer tissue specimens and cell lines. Enhanced expression of N-cadherin was observed in both the malignant and bone-metastasized prostate tissue specimens compared to the healthy prostate tissues. Consistent with the tissue array data, N-cadherin was highly expressed in PC3, but not in Du145 and LNCaP human prostate cell lines. Based on cell to cell binding assay, we found that N-cadherin expression facilitates homotypic interaction between human prostate cancer cells and human microvascular endothelial cells (HMEC). Human angiogenesis antibody array and in vitro angiogenesis assay showed that siRNA-mediated knockdown of N-cadherin reduced the secretion of monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1), which played a potential role in stimulating capillary network formation of HMEC. Additionally, culture supernatant of Du145 cells transfected with full-length N-cadherin expressing plasmid showed increased MCP-1 expression and chemoattractant ability compared to normal Du145 cells. Further, we noticed that blocking PI3K activity inhibited N-cadherin mediated MCP-1 expression. Our data demonstrated that N-cadherin in prostate cancer cell mediates cell–cell adhesion and regulates MCP-1 expression via the PI3K/Akt signaling pathway.     

Development of two cloned epithelial cell lines from normal adult mouse and rat ventral prostates

Summary Two epithelial cell lines were established, one from adult C3H mouse and one from adult Fischer rat ventral prostate. These cell lines were obtained from explant cultures, using Ham's F12 medium supplemented with HEPES, insulin, testosterone, hydrocortisone, epidermal growth factor, and 7.5% fetal bovine serum. A low concentration of trypsin and EDTA in Ca⁺⁺-and Mg⁺⁺-free phosphate buffer was used for passaging the cells. The rat cell line was established following implantation of prostate tissue in nude mice. These cell lines stained positively for acid phosphatase and were dependent upon epidermal growth factor for growth. Morphological studies, including electron microscopy, revealed a highly characteristic epithelial morphology of both cell lines. These cell lines have hypotetraploid chromosome numbers and are capable of metabolizing benzo(a)pyrene. We propose the application of these cells as models for the study of prostate carcinogenesis. This work was supported in part by Grant CA-21, 746, and by the Electron Microscope Core Facility on Grant CA-14,089, from the National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD.