Characterization of a stable,anchorage-dependent clone obtained from a spontaneously transformed mouse cell line

Summary A variant nontransformed clone, I21, was selected from the spontaneously transformed mouse fibroblast line, IT22. Selection was done by plating IT22 in methylcellulose and picking single cells after 2 d. Cultures derived from these single cells were selected again and one clone, I21, derived from the second round of selection was characterized extensively. I21 and IT22 have the same plating efficiency (PE) on plastic, but in agarose they differ by 1000-fold. In comparison to IT22, I21 has a normal morphological appearance, a lower saturation density, a higher viability in stationary phase, an increased doubling time, an increased chromosome content, and is unable to form tumors in nude mice. I21 has remained remarkably stable in culture and has not reverted to the transformed phenotype for at least 300 generations in culture. Over 100 clones of I21, expanded to 10⁶ cells, failed to show an increased PE in agarose. Even expansion of the rare colonies of I21 that grow in agarose failed to produce clones similar to IT22. The research was supported by the Medical Research Council and the National Cancer Institute of Canada. R. Godbout was supported by a 1967 Science Scholarship and by an MRC Studentship. B. L. Gallie is a Research Associate of the Ontario Cancer Treatment and Research Foundation.     

Stimulation of the adenylate cyclase of A B16 melanoma cell line by pro-opiocortin-related peptides--a structure-activity study

The ability of alpha-melanotrophin (alpha-MSH or ACTH 1-acetyl-13 amide) and other structurally related peptides derived from the common precursor, pro-opiocortin, to stimulate adenylate cyclase activity in a pigmented B16 mouse melanoma was investigated. The peptides ACTH 1-39, ACTH 1-24, alpha-MSH, ACTH 1-13 amide and beta-MSH all stimulated the enzyme to a similar maximal extent and with similar potency (ED50 = 1.3 . 10(-6) M) except that ACTH 1-39 was slightly less potent (ED50 = 5 . 10(-6) M). ACTH 4-10 (ED50 = 4 . 10(-5) M) and gamma-MSH (ED50 = 5 . 10(-6) M) were partial agonists. ACTH 1-10 was no more effective than ACTH 4-10 in stimulating the enzyme whereas ACTH 1-13 amide was a full agonist. The peptides beta-endorphin and its derivatives, Met-enkephalin and melanotrophin potentiating factor (MPF), failed to stimulate the enzyme. We suggest that the B16 melanoma requires not only the sequence ACTH 4-10 but also some part of the sequence ACTH 11-13, or a similar sequence in the terminal portion of beta-MSH, for full activation of the receptor-linked enzyme.     

Inverted pyramidal neurons and their axons in the neocortex of reeler mutant mice

Summary Inverted pyramidal neurons are very abundant in the cerebral cortex of the adult reeler mutant mouse. Two types of inverted pyramid are found in rapid Golgi impregnations. In the first type the axon starts from the base of the cell body and bends towards the white matter. In the second type, which is more common, the axon emerges from the apical dendritic tree and descends directly towards the white matter.Despite its abnormal topography, the site of origin of the axon in pyramids of the second type displays a normal differentiation, when analysed with the electron microscopic Golgi technique, suggesting that the ectopic initial axon segment is able to fulfil its normal functions.     

Estrogen-dependent changes in the functional interrelationships among neurons,ependymal cells and glial cells of the arcuate nucleus

Summary The synchronizing effect of ethinylestradiol (4 g/g b.w.) on neurons of the arcuate nucleus 700–950 m caudal to the posterior edge of the optic chiasma was studied by karyometry in 6-week-old albino mice during proestrus.The caudal portion of the arcuate nucleus was identified as the most estrogen-sensitive subdivision; all neurons showed an increase in their nuclear area (mean transect, profile area of the nucleus) 1 h following administration of ethinylestradiol. This hypothalamic region was selected for the subsequent electron-microscopic cytometric study to analyze functional interrelationships among neurons, ependymal cells and glial cells. Six and 12 days after ovariectomy no significant change in the nuclear area of neurons and ependymal cells was found 850–950 m behind the posterior slope of the optic chiasma, but the neurons exhibited a decrease in the number of polyribosomes, the volume fraction (V_Vmi) and the surface density of the inner membrane of mitochondria (S_Vmi). A similar decrease in V_Vmi and S_Vmi was measured in the apical part of ependymal cells and in the pericapillary profiles of ependymal and glial cells, which was accompanied by a reduction in the surface density of ependymal processes extending into the ventricular lumen. In addition, no change of V_Vmi and S_Vmi was seen in the basal subnuclear part of ependymal cells.This bipolar functional reaction of ependymal cells after ovariectomy is discussed as an indicator of ependymal control of neuronal activity by sequestering biologically active agents, e.g., transmitters of neurohormones, in their apical and basal extensions facing the ventricular surface or the pericapillary space.     

Regulation of Muscarinic Receptor-Mediated Cyclic GMP Synthesis by Cultured Mouse Neuroblastoma Cells

Mouse neuroblastoma clone N1E-115 has muscarinic acetylcholine receptors that mediate cyclic GMP synthesis. This receptor-mediated response is not significantly higher than background until the cells have been maintained in the stationary phase for at least 1 week. The basis of the influence of time in culture on the cyclic GMP response was investigated. The relative amount of cyclic GMP synthesized by intact cells was measured by radioactively labeling the GTP pool with [³H]guanine, incubating cells with agonists, and then chromatographically isolating [³H]cyclic GMP. Carbamylcholine-, ionophore X-537A-, and sodium azide-induced cyclic GMP formation increased with time in culture to a maximum of 13-, 9-, and 2.5-fold above basal, respectively. There was no change in the number or the apparent affinity of the muscarinic receptors as measured by [³H]quinuclidinyl benzylate ([³H]QNB) binding. In addition, there was no change in the apparent affinity of the receptors for agonist as measured by the ability of carbamylcholine to displace the specific binding of [³H]QNB. Guanylate cyclase activity per milligram protein and per cell in-creased six- and sevenfold, respectively, from day 0 to day 22. However, this increase in guanylate cyclase appeared to precede the marked increase in sensitivity of the cells to agonists. These data suggest that, in addition to guanylate cyclase and muscarinic receptors, there is another factor which is responsible for the development of this muscarinic receptor-mediated response.     

Steroid hormone receptor studies in melanoma model systems

The Transplantable B-16 melanotic melanoma carried in syngeneic C57B1/6J female mice and the Syrian hamster melanoma cell line, RPMI 3460, were utilized to determine whether steroid-hormone receptors are present in animal melanomas. In the B-16 melanoma, a cytoplasmic-estrogen receptor is detectable, but there is no evidence for androgen or progestin receptors. Some tumors contain a glucocorticoid-binding macromolecule. Sucrosedensity gradient centrifugation of cytosol after incubation with [³H]-estradiol revealed an 8S peak that was suppressed by excess radioinert diethylstilbesterol. Binding varied from 5–35 fmoles per mg cytosol protein. Scatchard analysis of [³H]-estradiol binding in cytosol yielded a single class of high-affinity binding sites; the dissociation constant is 6 × 10^?10 M. The receptor molecule is shown to be estrogen-specific by ligand competition assays. In contrast to B-16 melanoma, no estrogen, androgen, or progestin receptor can be found in the Syrian hamster melanoma cell line. However, a substantial level of specific binding is observed using [³H]-dexamethasone. Sucrose-gradient centrifugation of cytosol from this cell line after incubation with [³H]-dexamethasone revealed a 7S peak that was suppressed by excess radioinert dexamethasone. Scatchard analysis indicated a single class of high affinity sites with a dissociation constant of 2 × 10^?9 M. Binding levels from 70–610 fmoles per mg cytosol protein were observed. The Syrian hamster melanoma cells also exhibit a biological response to glucocorticoids: Dexamethasone causes both an inhibition of growth and a decrease in final-cell density in these cells.     

An improved culture medium for mouse blastocysts

Summary Eagle's basal medium, modified to contain essential amino acids at the concentrations optimal for mouse blastocyst hatching, attachment, and outgrowth, supported in vitro development of the mouse blastocyst better than other tissue culture media tested. This medium was improved for growth and differentiation of the inner cell mass by doubling the concentration of amino acids and glucose and by adding uridine (10⁻⁵ M) and β-mercaptoethanol (10⁻⁵ M). In this improved medium nearly all blastocysts grown from the two-cell stage hatched and formed trophoblast outgrowths, and 62% developed into two-layer egg cylinders. This work was supported by the U.S. Department of Energy.     

Linkage of Pgm-3 in the house mouse and homologies of three phosphoglucomutase loci in mouse and man

The discovery of a third phosphoglucomutase locus (Pgm-3) in the house mouse is reported. Three alleles are recognized on the basis of differences in electrophoretic mobility and enzymatic activity. Pgm-3 ^a (fast mobility and high activity) is present in inbred strain C57BL/10J and 24 other strains; Pgm-3 ^b (slow mobility and high activity) is present in LP/Pas and six other strains; and Pgm-3 ^c (no detectable activity in any tissue tested) is present in strain DBA/2J and 14 other strains. Seventy-four recombinant inbred strains derived from progenitors that differed at Pgm-3 were used to study genic linkage. Pgm-3 is on chromosome 9 and is linked to Sep-1, d, Mod-1, and Ltw-3. Gene order and recombination frequencies are estimated as d 3.8±1.8% Pgm-3 2.3±1.2% Mod-1. Substrate specificities and cofactor requirements show that mouse Pgm-1 is homologous with human Pgm-2, mouse Pgm-2 with human Pgm-1, and mouse Pgm-3 with human Pgm-3.This research was supported in part by NIH Research Grant GM18684 from the National Institute of General Medical Sciences to B.A.T. and by grants from NIH A105531-02 and the Volkswagon Foundation to Jan Klein. J.H.N. was a recipient of a Fellowship from the Max-Planck-Gesellschaft, Munich. G.S. and J.K. were supported by funds from the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft.     

Analysis of transmembrane proteins from eukaryotic cells

The topography and properties of plasma membrane proteins from mouse L-929 cells are studied by comparing their availability for enzymatic labeling on the external and internal surfaces of the membrane. In order to study the internal surface, phagolysosomes are prepared from cells after they ingest latex particles. The plasma membrane surrounding these seems to have an “inside-out” orientation. The sugars of the membrane glycoproteins in intact phagolysosomes are not available for interaction with lectins or available for periodate-borotritide labeling. A comparison of the lectin-binding proteins lableled by lactoperoxidase-catalyzed iodination on the external cell surface with those labeled on the internal cell surface suggests that a variety of plasma membrane glycoproteins span the lipid bilayer. Using two-dimensional gel electrophoresis it has been shown that selected proteins are labeled at both the internal and external faces of the plasma membrane. Analysis of the 2-D gel electrophoregrams reveals that there are two distinct prominent proteins at 60,000 and 100,000 daltons which are enzymatically iodinated from both sides of the membrane. The partial hydrolysis of the 100,000 dalton protein reveals that different peptides are iodinated when the iodination is performed on intact cells or on the phagolysosomes. These proteins are extensively phosphorylated in cells incubated with inorganic ³²P. We conclude that the phagolysosome is probably oriented in an “inside-out” configuration and that this membrane preparation can be used to study the topographic organization of membrane proteins. The use of oriented membranes, selective labeling of proteins, and affinity separation of proteins in combination with gel electrophoresis to define the position and properties of proteins is discussed.     

The development of mouse spinal cord in tissue culture

Summary Whole mouse embryos were grown in vitro from Theiler stage 12 (1 to 7 somites) to Theiler stages 15 and 16 (25 to 35 somites). This procedure gives experimental access to precisely staged embryos during the early period of neurogenesis. To follow the further development of neurons in vitro, fragments of spinal primordia were set up from these cultured embryos. In such cultures, the proliferation of precursor cells, the formation of postmitotic cells and, finally, the cytodifferentiation of neurons were observed. A preliminary account of this work was given at the Tissue Culture Association Meeting in 1977, and the Canadian Federation of Biological Societies Meeting in 1977 (1,2). This work was supported by Grant MT 4235 from the Medical Research Council of Canada.