PubMed Health⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

D Clive

Publications and source records attributed to D Clive.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

Analysis of trifluorothymidine-resistant (TFTr) mutants of L5178Y/TK+/- mouse lymphoma cells.

Three classes of TFTr variants of L5178Y/TK+/- -3.7.2C mouse lymphoma cells can be identified--large colony (lambda), small colony (sigma), and tiny colony (tau). The sigma and lambda mutants are detectable in the routine mutagenesis assay using soft agar cloning. The tau mutants are extremely slow growing and are quantitated only in suspension cloning in microwells. Variants of all three classes have been analyzed in the process of evaluating the usefulness of the thymidine kinase locus in L5178Y/TK+/- mouse lymphoma cells for detecting induced mutational damage. 150 of 152 variants from mutagen treated cultures and 163 of 168 spontaneous mutants were TFTr when rechallenged approximately 1 week after isolation (3 weeks after induction). All of the 41 mutants assayed for enzyme activity were TK-deficient. The sigma and tau phenotypes were found to correlate with slow cellular growth rates (doubling time greater than 12 h), rather than from effects of the TFT selection or mutagen toxicity. Cytogenetic analysis of sigma mutants approximately 3 weeks after induction shows an association between the sigma phenotype and readily observable (at the 230-300 band level) chromosomal abnormalities (primarily translocations involving that chromosome 11 carrying the functional TK gene) in 30 of 51 induced mutants studied. Using an early clonal analysis of mutants (approximately 2 weeks after induction) 28 of 30 sigma mutants showed chromosome 11 rearrangements. All lambda mutants studied (17 of 17 evaluated 3 weeks after induction and 8 of 8 evaluated 2 weeks after induction) showed normal karyotypes (at the 230-300 band resolution level), including the chromosome 11s. These observations support the hypothesis that sigma (and likely tau) mutants represent chromosomal mutations and lambda mutants represent less extensive mutations affecting the TK locus. The inclusion of sigma mutants in the total induced mutant frequency, as well as distinguishing them as a separate subpopulation of TK-deficient mutants, is, therefore, essential in obtaining maximum utility of the information provided by the L5178Y/TK+/- mouse lymphoma assay.

Animals↗

Chromosome 11 aberrations in small colony L5178Y TK-/- mutants early in their clonal history.

We have developed a cytogenetic technique that allows observation of chromosome rearrangements associated with TK-/- mutagenesis of the L5178Y/TK+/-3.7.2C cell line early in mutant clonal history. For a series of mutagenic treatments we show that the major proportion (93%) of small-colony (sigma) mutants studied have chromosome 11 rearrangements (the chromosome containing the thymidine kinase gene) while large-colony (lambda) mutants do not have detectable chromosome rearrangements. In addition, we find among the chromosome abnormalities in sigma mutants a significant proportion (34%) with dicentric chromosomes involving chromosome 11. These potentially unstable chromosome rearrangements may help to explain the karyotypic instability and heterogeneity among chromosome 11 aberrations previously noted in sigma mutants when they are analyzed later in their clonal history.

Animals↗

Cytogenetic characterization of the L5178Y TK+/-3.7.2C mouse lymphoma cell line.

The cytogenetic characterization of the L5178Y TK+/-3.7.2C mouse lymphoma cell line was carried out, utilizing G-banded metaphase chromosomes, to provide a karyotypic basis for the precise delineation of induced rearrangements in TK-/- mutants. Band-pattern measurements were used to construct ideograms which represent the position, number, size and staining intensity of the chromosome bands. The TK+/-3.7.2C cell line has been shown to provide quantitation of forward mutations induced at the autosomal thymidine kinase (TK) locus in this cell line. Chromosome analysis of the TK+/-3.7.2C cell line and derived TK-/- mutants has become important in demonstrating that the TK+/-----TK-/- assay may detect and distinguish between chromosomal events and smaller, perhaps point-mutation, events in mutant colonies.

Animals↗

Mutagenicity in drug development: interpretation and significance of test results.

The use of mutagenicity data has been proposed and widely accepted as a relatively fast and inexpensive means of predicting long-term risk to man (i.e., cancer in somatic cells, heritable mutations in germ cells). This view is based on the universal nature of the genetic material, the somatic mutation model of carcinogenesis, and a number of studies showing correlations between mutagenicity and carcinogenicity. An uncritical acceptance of this approach by some regulatory and industrial concerns is over-conservative, naive, and scientifically unjustifiable on a number of grounds: Human cancers are largely life-style related (e.g., cigarettes, diet, tanning). Mutagens (both natural and man-made) are far more prevalent in the environment than was originally assumed (e.g., the natural bases and nucleosides, protein pyrolysates, fluorescent lights, typewriter ribbon, red wine, diesel fuel exhausts, viruses, our own leukocytes). "False-positive" (relative to carcinogenicity) and "false-negative" mutagenicity results occur, often with rational explanations (e.g., high threshold, inappropriate metabolism, inadequate genetic endpoint), and thereby confound any straightforward interpretation of mutagenicity test results. Test battery composition affects both the proper identification of mutagens and, in many instances, the ability to make preliminary risk assessments. In vitro mutagenicity assays ignore whole animal protective mechanisms, may provide unphysiological metabolism, and may be either too sensitive (e.g., testing at orders-of-magnitude higher doses than can be ingested) or not sensitive enough (e.g., short-term treatments inadequately model chronic exposure in bioassay). Bacterial systems, particularly the Ames assay, cannot in principle detect chromosomal events which are involved in both carcinogenesis and germ line mutations in man. Some compounds induce only chromosomal events and little or no detectable single-gene events (e.g., acyclovir, caffeine, methapyrilene). In vivo mutagenicity assays are more physiological but appear to be relatively insensitive due to the inability to achieve sufficiently high acute plasma levels to mimic cumulative long-term effects. Examination of the mutagenicity of naturally occurring analogs may indicate the irrelevance of a test compound's mutagenicity (e.g., deoxyguanosine and the structurally related antiviral drug, acyclovir, have identical mutagenicity patterns). Life-threatening or severe debilitating diseases (e.g., cancer, severe psychoses, severe crippling arthritis, sight-threatening diseases) may justify treatment with mutagenic or even carcinogenic therapeutic agents (benefit/risk considerations).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Acyclovir↗

Specific gene mutations in L5178Y cells in culture.

The predominant test system uses a near-diploid L5178Y mouse lymphoma cell line and is based on the quantitation of forward mutations occurring at the heterozygous thymidine kinase (TK) locus (TK+/- leads to TK-/-). (Other markers, such as ouabain- or methothrexate-resistance and alanine independence, in other L5178Y mouse lymphoma cells were also examined, but our criteria for the acceptability of data or the paucity of data considerably reduced the value of these mutagenesis test systems to this study.) The biochemical basis for the L5178Y/TK+/- assay depends on the ability of TK-competent cells to phosphorylate 5-bromo-2'-deoxyuridine or trifluorothymidine. The phosphorylated product or its metabolites kill these cells, thus, medium containing 5-bromo-2'-deoxyuridine or trifluorothymidine is capable of selecting for cells that are lacking the TK enzyme (TK-/-). TK-/- cells eventually give rise to a bimodal distribution of colony sizes. The relative proportion of small and large colonies appears to be characteristic of the mutagen, its dose, and the length of the expression period. A total of 108 references were reviewed and 48 chemical agents were evaluated. Of these, in vivo carcinogenicity data existed for 44 and covered a wide variety of chemical classes (43 compounds) and a complex mixture. In this system, 39 agents were positive, 1 was negative, and 4 yielded inconclusive results. The 44 test substances evaluated were insufficient to single out agents or agent classes for which the assay was particularly well suited; however, with the exception of thymidine analogs, the system seems to be versatile. The correlation of the TK locus assay results with the carcinogenicity data revealed that 2 agents were definite false positives (sodium azide and methotrexate) and 1 agent was a definite false negative (1,1-dimethylhydrazine). Further evaluation suggested that 4-acetylaminofluorene and diphenylnitrosamine were questionable false positives, while benzo[e]pyrene was a questionable false negative. (The term questionable was used to imply uncertainties concerning the mutagenicity and/or carcinogenicity data). Thus, the assay is of value in the battery approach to mutagenicity/carcinogenicity screening.

Animals↗

Cytogenetic analysis of the L5178Y/TK+/- leads to TK-/- mouse lymphoma mutagenesis assay system.

The L5178Y/TK+/- leads to TK-/- mouse lymphoma mutagen assay, which allows selection of forward mutations at the autosomal thymidine kinase (TK) locus, uses a TK+/- heterozygous cell line, TK+/- 3.7.2C. Quantitation of colonies of mutant TK-/- cells in the assay forms the basis for calculations of mutagenic potential of test compounds. We have evaluated the banded karyotypes of the parent TK+/- heterozygous cell line, as well as homozygous TK-/- mutants, in order to relate the genetic and morphological properties of mutant colonies. The parent cell line displays karyotype homogeneity, all cells containing normal mouse chromosomes, readily identifiable chromosome rearrangements, and cell line specific marker chromosomes. Mutant TK-/- colonies of the TK+/- 3.7.2C cell line form a bimodal frequency distribution of colony sizes for most mutagenic or carcinogenic test substances. Large-colony (lambda) TK-/- mutants with normal growth kinetics appear karyotypically identical within and among clones and with the TK+/- parental cell line. In contrast, most slow-growing small-colony (sigma) TK-/- mutants have readily recognizable chromosome rearrangements involving chromosome 11, which contains the thymidine kinase gene locus. It is possible that the heritable differences in growth kinetics and resultant colony morphology in lambda and sigma mutants are related to the type of chromosomal damage sustained. Large-colony mutants receive minimal damage, possibly in the form of point mutations at the TK locus, while small-colony mutants receive damage to other genetic functions coordinately with loss of TK activity, implying gross insult to chromosomal material. It seems likely that lambda and sigma mutants result from 2 different mutational mechanisms that may be distinguished on the basis of mutant colony morphology.

Animals↗

The utilization of trifluorothymidine (TFT) to select for thymidine kinase-deficient (TK-/-) mutants from L5178Y/TK+/- mouse lymphoma cells.

Trifluorothymidine (TFT), a thymidine analog, was analyzed for its ability to select for thymidine kinase-deficient (TK-/-) mutants. In comparison with BUdR, the traditional selective agent for TK-/- cells, it was determined that TFT at 1/50th the dose (1 microgram/ml vs. 50 microgram/ml) is a more effective and versatile selective agent for TK-/- mutants arising from the TK+/- -3.7.2C heterozygote of L5178Y mouse lymphoma cells. Since TFT acts more rapidly than BUdR, it can be utilized in procedures (such as the analysis of the phenotypic lag) requiring the fast arrest of cell division. Reconstruction analyses of effective TK-/- mutant recovery indicate that TFT can be used to recover mutants from significantly higher densities of TK+/- cells than can BUdR. In addition, TK-/- mutants can attain larger colony size in TFT than in BudR where severe stunting of growth occurs at high TK-/- cell densities. 190 of 194 isolated TFT-resistant large and small colony mutants (both spontaneous and induced).

Animals↗

Validation and characterization of the L5178Y/TK+/- mouse lymphoma mutagen assay system.

The current status of the L5178Y/TK+/- leads to TK-/- mouse-lymphoma mutagenicity assay is described. Dose-survival-mutagenic response data are shown for 43 chemicals. Mutagenicity and cytotoxicity in the presence or absence of non-induced and/or Aroclor-induced rat-liver S-9 are compared for most of these chemicals, 25 of these for which usuable carcinogenicity data exist have been used to construct an approximately linear relationship between oncogenic potency in vivo and mutagenic potency in this system in vitro; linearity between these two endpoints extends over a greater than 100,000-fold range in potencies. Several carcinogens which are negative or difficult to detect in the standard Ames assay are mutagenic in this mammalian cell system. These include natulan, sodium saccharin (lot S-1022), p,p'-DDE (metabolite of DDT), dimethylnitrosamine, diethylnitrosamine and diethylstilbestrol. Characterization of the TK-/- mutants suggests that two mutagenic mechanisms contribute to their final yield. Large-colony TK-/- mutants probably represent point or gene mutations affecting the TK locus. In addition, a class of small-colony TK(/- mutants are described and characterized as being heritably growth-deficient; this and other properties suggest that these small-colony TK-/- mutants originate by a heritable and viable chromosomal aberration. Most carcinogens and mutagens tested produce both classes of TK-/- mutants in this system; the relative proportions of small- and large-colony mutants are both mutagen- and dose-dependent. Comparative studies have been done at the rapidly-expressing TK locus and the slowly-expressing HGPRT locus in these cells. Several carcinogens detected at the TK locus are non- or very weakly mutagenic at the HGPRT locus. This findings is consistent with the induction of slow-growing specific locus mutants by a chromosomal mechanism and their subsequent dilution during this long expression time.

Animals↗

Evidence for chemically-induced structural gene mutations at the thymidine kinase locus in cultured L5178Y mouse lymphoma cells.

L5178Y mouse lymphoma cells normally appear to possess two functional thymidine kinase alleles (TK+/+). TK-deficient (TK-/-) clonal lines can be derived from these cells by treatment with EMS or other mutagens. Mezger-Freed [12] has argued that such stable phenotypic variants do not arise as the result of gene mutations but instead represent epigenetic events such as normally occur during differentiation without any permanent gene alteration. If this be so, then rare TK+/- revertants arising in TK-/- cultures should possess TK enzyme identical with one of those present in the original TK+/+ cells, since only depression of the TK gene is involved. Our studies show that this is not the case. Among the mutant TK enzymes analyzed in vitro (those from parental TK+/- lines, each derived in turn from separate TK-/- lines) differences were found in (1) solubility in saline; (2) solubility in 3 M LiCl; (3) Km's; and (4) ATP-Mg2+ requirements. These findings were incompatible with a non-mutational model for the production of these stable variants and, in conjunction with reversion-rate data, they tended to favor either direct structural gene modifications or mutations affecting the expression of adult and fetal enzymes.

Bromodeoxyuridine↗