RAPD-PCR analysis for molecular characterization and genotoxic studies of a new marine fish cell line derived from Dicentrarchus labrax

Continuous cell lines could provide an important tool for studying epidemiology, toxicology, cellular physiology and the host–pathogen interactions. Random amplified polymorphic deoxyribonucleic acid analysis by PCR (RAPD-PCR) was used for the molecular characterization of Dicentrarchus labrax embryonic cells (DLEC) as a possible tool to detect DNA alterations in environmental genotoxic studies. We studied the DNA pattern of the DLEC fish cell line, a fibroblast-like cell line derived from European sea bass. From a total of 15 primers only six showed good discriminatory power for the amplification process on DNA samples collected from cells by three different methods (organic extraction, salting-out method and chelating agent extraction). The results obtained show that the cell line chosen for this study could be used as a possible tool for the detection of potential genotoxicity of numerous chemical compounds.     

Adaptation of an insect cell line (Agallia constricta) in a mammalian cell culture medium

Summary An established insect cell line (AC20) from the leafhopperAgallia constricta has been adapted to a mammalian cell culture medium based on the formulation of two commercially available media. The cell population doubling time of the adapted line in this medium is approximately 45 hr at 30°C. This research was supported in part by National Science Foundation Grant GB29277X.     

不同保藏处理的昆虫标本DNA提取及其随机扩增多态DNA反应

实验利用CTAB法对柳二十斑叶甲Chrysomela vigintipunctata (Scopoli)、异色瓢虫Harmonia axyridis Pollas、七星瓢虫Coccinella septempunctata Linnaeus、小地老虎Agrotis ypsilon (Rottemberg)、红蜻Crocothemis servilia Drury、无齿稻蝗Oxya abentata Willemse和中华稻蝗Oxya chinensis (Thunberg)等7种昆虫进行了基因组DNA提取。从自然干燥标本、烘干标本及酒精浸泡标本获得的DNA均可用于RAPD-PCR反应,且烘干标本、酒精浸泡标本提取效果优于自然干燥标本。这种提取方法简便易行,容易掌握,且耗资小于其它分子生物学方法。     

Identification of insect cell lines and cell‐line cross‐contaminations by nuclear ribosomal ITS sequences

This report shows how the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region of nuclear ribosomal DNA (rDNA) can be used to determine the species identity of insect cell lines and to distinguish between cell lines derived from closely related insect species. A PCR‐RFLP method with the endonucleases HincII and PstI produces restriction fragment profiles that could distinguish between insect cell lines at the species level. Another PCR‐based method used three species‐specific primer sets, Ly‐ITS1/Ly‐ITS2, ITS1‐1/Ld‐ITS1 and Sf9‐F2/ITS4, to identify the cell lines from Lymantria xylina, L. dispar and Spodoptera frugiperda, respectively. This method also detected cell‐line cross‐contaminations (CLCC) with contamination levels as low as 1% (10 cells in a population of 1000 cells) even when the contaminating cells were from a closely related species. Compared with conventional methods used for cell‐line identification and CLCC detection, the methods presented here are fast and sensitive and could easily be applied to other cell culture laboratories.     

Development of an attached strain from a continuous insect cell line

Summary A continuous attached cell strain has been developed from the IPRI-CF-124 line of the spruce budworm,Choristoneura fumiferana. This was done by discarding suspended cells at each passage, rinsing attached cells with 0.05% trypsin and using only the strongly attached cells for subculturing. The method is very effective in that the proportion of attached cells increased from 6% in the parent cell line to 97% in the new cell strain after 20 passages. The attachment and growth properties are stable after storage of cells in liquid nitrogen. The new cell strain is designated IPRI-CF-124T and has a population doubling time comparable to that of the parent cell line. Contribution No.: 329.     

Evidence for chitin synthesis in an insect cell line

Cells from the continuous MRRL-CH line derived from embryos of the tobacco hornworm synthesized chitin. Digestion of the washed pellet from [¹⁴C]-N-acetylglucosamine-labeled cells by chitinase yielded a water-soluble labeled compound. The lyophilized residue from the supernatant of the chitin digestion was analyzed by gas-liquid chromatography as its trimethylsilyl derivative. The major component cochromatographed with derivitized chitobiose. The presence of chitobiose was confirmed by gas chro-matography-mass spectrometry. The synthesis of chitin by this cell line is inhibited by diflubenzuron.     

Effects of 20-hydroxyecdysone and tunicamycin on glycoprotein synthesis in an insect cell line

Treatment of CH-MRRL cells with either 20-hydroxyecdysone or tunicamycin resulted in a decrease in the incorporation of labeled sugars into glycoproteins. This change appears to be largely quantitative, as few qualitative changes in protein bands were apparent as determined by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. Tunicamycin caused a greater change in the amount of labeled sugar incorporated into specific glycoproteins than did 20-hydroxyecdysone. This was more apparent in [¹⁴C]-mannose-labeled than in [¹⁴C]-N-acetylglucosamine-labeled glycoproteins. Both compounds caused changes in cell surface glycoproteins. These changes are discussed in relation to previous work on binding of lectins to the cell surface and on the mode of action of tunicamycin.     

Roles for insulin and ecdysteroids in differentiation of an insect cell line of epidermal origin

Summary During postembryonic development of insects, molting cycles affect epidermal cells with alternate periods of proliferation and differentiation. Cells of the cell line established from imaginal discs of the Indian meal moth (IAL-PID2) differentiate under the action of the molting hormone, 20-hydroxyecdysone, in a manner that is meaningful in terms of the development of the tissue from which they were derived. In particular, the hormone caused an accumulation of the cells in the G2 phase of their cycle and induced the formation of epithelial-like aggregates and the synthesis of specific proteoglycans. Recent discovery of members of the insulin superfamily in insects and the role of growth factors played by this family of molecules in vertebrates led us to check for their potential effects on IAL-PID2 cell cycle regulation. On the one hand, our results showed that insulin was involved in partial resumption of the cell cycle after an arrest caused by serum deprivation, but that other growth factors present in fetal calf serum were needed for full completion of mitosis. On the other hand, the cytostatic effect of 20-hydroxyecdysone was reversible, and, prior exposure of the cells to the hormone allowed the cells to complete one cell cycle in serum-free medium. These results suggest that the production of autocrine growth factors induced by ecdysteroids could circumvent the absence of serum. This cell culture model provides potential for further study of interactions between ecdysteroids and growth factor homologs during differentiation of insect epidermal cells.     

BCL-2 does not control programmed cell death in the IPLB-LdFB cell line from the insect Lymantria dispar

In the insect Lymantria dispar cell line IPLB-LdFB the presence of a Bcl-2-like molecule has been demonstrated. The Western blot analysis performed on the cells incubated with 2-deoxy-D-ribose (dRib), an apoptotic inducer, revealed that, in comparison with the control, the Bcl-2 expression was unaffected. Furthermore, incubation of the insect cells with an anti-Bcl-2 polyclonal antibody inhibited the apoptotic effect induced by dRib, and provoked mitochondrial membrane depolarization without any apoptotic phenomena. Similar behaviour was observed using the K+ ionophore valinomycin. From these findings, we hypothesize that the L. dispar Bcl-2-like protein is essential for maintenance of the mitochondrial membrane potential, but not, as usually thought, for the regulation of programmed cell death.     

Hormonal studies of uridine utilization in an insect cell line CP-1268 derived from the codling mothLaspeyresia pomonella

Summary Ecdysterone decreased cellular growth and the incorporation of uridine into RNA following 4 days of hormone exposure. This hormone did not affect uridine incorporation following short-term exposure up to 25 hours. Juvenile hormone and farnesol both significantly decreased uridine uptake and incorporation into RNA; however, uridine uptake was inhibited to a greater extent than uridine incorporation. Cyclic AMP increased the incorporation of uridine into RNA but had no demonstrable effect on the uptake process. This stimulation was not the result of cAMP degradation products. Cyclic AMP and ecdysterone together produced a significant increase in urdine incorporation into RNA. These studies demonstrate the potential utilization of insect cell lines for studying the mode of action of insect developmental hormones.     

Oligomycin A and the IPLB-LdFB insect cell line: actin and mitochondrial responses

Oligomycin A, an inhibitor of mitochondrial ATP synthase, provokes simultaneous and different responses in IPLB-LdFB insect cell line. The oligomycin A treatment causes mitochondrial loss, increase in reactive oxygen species (ROS), destabilization/reorganization of the actin microfilaments and, finally, autophagic cell death. We speculate that oligomycin A affects the mitochondria and that the impairment of these organelles leads to the generation of ROS in quantities that exceed the antioxidant capacity of the cell. This in turn would lead to a feedback loop of increased mitochondrial impairment, amplification of ROS production and the removal of damaged organelles through autophagy.     

Oligomycin A induces autophagy in the IPLB-LdFB insect cell line

Functional and morphological modifications in the IPLB-LdFB insect cell line were examined following a short treatment with a reversible inhibitor of mitochondrial ATP synthase, oligomycin A, and subsequent incubation for various times in oligomycin-A-free medium. Oncosis, apoptosis and autophagy at variable percentages were observed under the various experimental conditions. Together with oncotic and apoptotic pathways that lead directly to cell death, the insect cells responded to ATP depletion with autophagy. Our results revealed that, in most cases, autophagy failed to restore cellular homeostasis, probably because of a massive sequestration of mitochondria in autophagic vacuoles. This critical event was a “point of no return” and ultimately resulted in cell necrosis. However, cells with a misshapen body and nucleus resembling “resistant forms” were observed at the end of the experiments. Our findings indicate that oligomycin-A-induced autophagy can promote cell protection or cell destruction and is an open-ended process that can lead to survival or death depending on a combination of concomitant factors.This work was supported by MIUR (Italy) grants to M.deE. and E.O. and by the Centro Grandi Attrezzature (University of Insubria, Varese, Italy).Gianluca Tettamanti and Davide Malagoli contributed equally to this work.     

Cell cycle analysis and synchronization of the TN-368 insect cell line

Summary A cell cycle analysis of theTrichoplusia ni (TN-368) insect cell line is described. By means of autoradiography and percent labeled metaphase data, the cell cycle parameters were determined to be as follows: S, 4.5 hr; G₂, 8.5 hr; M, 0.5 hr; G₁, 1.0 hr; the total cell time being 14.5 hr. A synchronization procedure using 50mm thymidine in a double block procedure was used to provide a method of obtaining a large number of cells in particular cell cycle phases, especially S and G₂. This work was supported in part by U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Grant R-802516.     

Expression of the green fluorescent protein carried by Autographa Californica multiple nucleopolyhedrovirus in insect cell lines

Summary A recombinant AcMNPV containing the green fluorescent protein (gfp) gene under the polyhedrin promoter (polh) was used to investigate the expression of the gfp gene as well as the production of recombinant extracellular virus in 14 continuous insect cell lines, including Heliothis virescens (BCIRL-HV-AM1), Helicoverpa zea (BCIRL-HZ-AM1), Anticarsia gemmatalis (BCIRL-AG-AM1), Trichoplusia ni (TN-CL1), Spodoptera frugiperda (IPLB-SF21), Spodoptera exigua (BCIRL/AMCY-Se-E1 and BCIRL/AMCY-Se-E5), Bombyx mori (BMN), Sf9 (a clone of IPLB-SF21), and five cell line clones of BCIRL-HV-AM1. The susceptibility of the cell lines to the recombinant virus (AcMNPV.GFP) was ascertained by calculating the mean percentage number of green light-emitting cells as well as by TCID₅₀ titration of extracellular virus with fluorescence as a sign of infection. Of the 14 cell lines tested, all were permissive with varying degrees to Ac-MNPV.GFP, except BCIRL-HV-AMCL2 and BCIRL-HZ-AM1, both grown in serum-containing medium, and BMN, grown in serum-free medium, which were nonpermissive to the virus. Except for BCIRL/AMCY-Se-E1, IPLB-SF21, and four of the five BCIRL-HV-AM1 clones, all the other cell lines (BCIRL-HV-AM1, BCIRL-AG-AM1, TN-CL1, Se-E5, and Sf9) expressed detectable levels of GFP by 48 h postinoculation. The BCIRL/AMCY-Se-E1 and IPLB-SF21 cells, grown in serum-free medium (Ex-Cell 401), expressed detectable levels of GFP at 72 h postinoculation. By contrast, in BCIRL/AMCY-Se-E1 in serum-containing medium (Ex-Cell 401+10% FBS [fetal bovine serum]), GFP was detected at 48 h postinoculation. Furthermore, TN-CL1 cells produced the largest mean percentage number of fluorescent (76.6%) cells in both serum-containing and serum-free medium (64.8%) at 120 h postinoculation. All the BCIRL-HV-AM1 clones showed no GFP expression until 96 h postinoculation, and only then about 1% of the cell population fluoresced. The mean extracellular virus (ECV) production at 120 h postinoculation was highest in BCIRL/AMCY-Se-E5 cells grown in Ex-Cell 401+10% FBS (37.8×10⁶ TCID₅₀/ml) followed by BCIRL-HV-AM1 in TC199-MK (33.4×10⁶ TCID₅₀/ml). Only the BCIRL-HV-AMCL3 clone produced any substantial level of ECV at 120 h postinoculation (16.9×10⁶ TCID₅₀/ml). However, there was no significant correlation between ECV production and the mean percentage number of fluorescent cells. This study provides further information on the susceptibility of 14 insect cell lines to a recombinant AcMNPV containing the green fluorescent protein gene. This information might avail researchers with information to facilitate decisions as to what other cell lines are available for in vitro studies of the gfp gene.     

Development and characterization of insect cell lines

Conclusions With the wide availability of insect cell culture media, it can generally be considered a routine process to develop new cell lines. Exceptions to this statement do exist, of course. Difficulties may arise when attempting to culture a specific cell type. For example, while there are a few cell lines from insect fat body and at least one from the midgut, it may not be possible to obtain cell lines from these tissues from all insect species due to terminal differentiation and other factors. Also, researchers have desired cell lines from certain species, such as the honey bee, for which no success has been obtained. As in the early days of tissue culture, it is difficult to discern why negative results occur. However, as more is learned about the physiology and nutrition of various insects and tissues, we may get clues which will help solve these questions.The remaining chapters in this book will provide the reader with exciting uses for insect cell culture. As I mentioned earlier, the baculovirus expression vector system has provided a stimulus to the field of insect cell culture not seen previously.Abbreviations ICD Isocitrate dehydrogenase - ME malic enzyme - PGI phosphoglucose isomerase - PGM phosphoglucose mutase     

Establishment of a cell line from embryos of the cabbage looper,Trichoplusia ni (hubner)

Summary A new cell line was developed from 3-d-old embryonated eggs of the cabbage looper,Trichoplusia ni, and has been designated IPLB-TN-R². It contains a variety of morphological cell types, including myoblastlike, neuroblastlike, and epithelial-like cells. Chromosome analysis revealed typical lepidopteran chromosomes. Isozyme characterization showed patterns similar to two other cabbage looper cell lines (TN-368 and IAL-TND1) in the case of five enzymes but differed from these two lines for two other enzymes. Virus infectivity tests revealed the line is highly susceptible toAutographa californica nuclear polyhedrosis virus, but no cytopathology was observed after inoculation with several other lepidopteran viruses.     

Fast discrimination (RAPD-PCR) of the species forming the pest complex Aleurodicus dispersus–Lecanoideus floccissimus (Hom: Aleyrodidae)

Abstract:  The Aleurodicus dispersus–Lecanoideus floccissimus complex has become a very important agricultural pest in the Canaries. These species are not easily differentiated by their morphological characteristics. The aim of the present study was to obtain genetic markers to unambiguously distinguish both species of this complex. Thus, six random primers were employed to generate RAPD markers. Different RAPD profiles were observed for the different species. The analysis successfully identified 39 reproducible and specific markers for L. floccissimus and 51 for A. dispersus , i.e. bands present in all individuals of one species but never in the other. RAPD markers resulted a useful tool for discriminate both species. Early identification of species and also of biotypes is crucial when designing control strategies to avoid the spread of the pest and consequently the considerable economic losses it causes in tropical crops.     

Monitoring of the bacterial composition of dairy starter cultures by RAPD-PCR

Randomly amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD)-PCR was used to verify the species composition of commercial dairy starters and to detect possible shifts in strain composition of these cultures. After RAPD-PCR analysis, not all the strains isolated in the years 2001 and 2002 fell within the same dendrogram cluster of the strains isolated in the year 2000 and used as reference strains. Changes in composition of the microbial population and/or voluntary immission of new biotypes with respect to the original strain formulation had occurred in the starters. The microbial composition of modern dairy starters represents a key point because the complex relationships among microorganisms can easily be altered. Little variations in the microbial composition could have unexpected effects on cheese quality.     

Characterization of invertebrate cell lines

Summary Cell extracts of five mosquito cell lines and a tick cell line were examined for four cellular isozymes using a cellulose-acetate electrophoretic technique. This method distinguished the cell lines that were derived from the different species. Intraspecies distinctions were not made using the cell lines tested; the significance of this finding is discussed. The usefulness of this technique in identifying a potentially mislabeled cell line was demonstrated. This research was supported by contracts, DADA 17-72C-2170 of the U.S. Army and N00014-78C-0104 of the U.S. Office of Naval Research and grants from the World Health Organization and the Rockefeller Foundation.