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J M Harmon

Publications and source records attributed to J M Harmon.

45 records · Page 3Linked to original sources

Isolation and characterization of dexamethasone-resistant mutants from human lymphoid cell line CEM-C7.

Fifty-four independent dexamethasone-resistant clones were isolated from the clonal, glucocorticoid-sensitive human leukemic T-cell line CEM-C7. Resistance to 1 microM dexamethasone was acquired spontaneously at a rate of 2.6 X 10(-5) per cell per generation as determined by fluctuation analysis. After mutagenesis with N-methyl-N'-nitro-N-nitrosoguanidine (MNNG), the phenotypic expression time for dexamethasone resistance was determined to be 3 days. Spontaneous acquisition of resistance to 0.1 mM 6-thioguanine appeared to occur at a much slower rate, 1.6 X 10(-6) per cell per generation. However, the expression time after MNNG mutagenesis for this resistant phenotype was greater than 11 days, suggesting that the different rates of acquisition for the two phenotypes measured by fluctuation analysis were the results of the disparate expression times. The mutagens ICR 191 and MNNG were effective in increasing the dexamethasone-resistant fraction of cells in mutagenized cultures; ICR 191 produced a 35.6-fold increase, and MNNG produced an 8.5-fold increase. All the spontaneous dexamethasone-resistant clones contained glucocorticoid receptors, usually less than half of the amount found in the parental clone. They are therefore strikingly different from dexamethasone-resistant clones derived from the mouse cell lines S49 and W7. Dexamethasone-resistant clones isolated after mutagenesis of CEM-C7 contained, on the average, lower concentrations of receptor than did those isolated spontaneously, and one clone contained no detectable receptor. These results are consistent with a mutational origin for dexamethasone resistance in these human cells at a haploid or functionally hemizygous locus. They also suggest that this is a useful system for mutation assay.

Cell Division↗

'Activation-labile' glucocorticoid-receptor complexes of a steroid-resistant variant of CEM-C7 human lymphoid cells.

For cytoplasmic glucocorticoid-receptor complexes to enter and accumulate in the nucleus a temperature-dependent event, 'activation' is required. Activation can be achieved in vitro by increased ionic strength, dilution or gel filtration and is manifested by an increased affinity of steroid-receptor complex for DNA and an altered elution profile from ion-exchange resins. Munck and Foley have shown that activated complexes isolated from thymocytes elute from DEAE-cellulose in a manner identical to complexes activated in vitro. We report here that DEAE-cellulose chromatography of steroid-receptor complexes from CEM-C7, a cloned human leukaemic T-cell line sensitive to the cytolytic action of glucocorticoids, and its steroid-resistant subclone 4R4 demonstrated that steroid receptors of clone 4R4 cannot form stable activated complexes. This defines a new defect in receptor action, activation lability (r+act1), which is unlike either the r-, r+nt-, or r+nti phenotypes previously described for mouse lymphoid variants.

Animals↗

Dexamethasone induces irreversible G1 arrest and death of a human lymphoid cell line.

Growth of a human leukemic T-cell line (CEM C7) in 10(-6) M dexamethasone results in inhibition of growth and rapid loss of cell viability after a delay of approximately 18 to 24 hours. Analysis of dexamethasone-treated cells by flow-microfluorometry showed that they were arrested in the G1 phase of the cell cycle. Loss of cell viability began at the same time as G1 accumulation was first detectable, and 20% of all cells were found to be blocked in G1 at this time suggesting that loss of viability and G1 arrest were coincident events. Half-maximal and maximal effects on both viability and G1 arrest after 48 hours in steroid were nearly identical with respect to steroid concentration and corresponded to half-maximal and full occupancy of glucocorticoid specific receptor by hormone, consistent with a glucocorticoid receptor mediated mechanism for both phenomena. Most non-viable cells were arrested in G1, and accumulation of cells in G1 was irreversible; removal of steroid in the presence of colcemid did not result in a decreased fraction of G1 cells. Furthermore, dexamethasone treatment did not protect cells against the effects of 33258 Hoechst-amplified killing of bromodeoxyuridine substituted cells exposed to light. These results show that dexamethasone arrests these leukemic cells in G1 and strongly suggest that dexamethasone-treated cells are killed upon entry into G1.

Cell Cycle↗

Some properties of a membrane-deoxyribonucleic acid complex isolated from Bacillus subtilis.

Membrane-deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) complexes were isolated from Bacillus subtilis by affinity for magnesium-Sarkosyl crystals. These complexes (M-bands) contained greater than 80% of the total cellular DNA; little of the remaining portion could be recovered in a secondary isolation. Isotopic labeling of the origin of replication showed this region of the chromosome to be closely associated with the cell membrane. Interruption of protein or DNA synthesis did not result in detachment of the chromosome from the membrane. Interruption of ribonucleic acid synthesis by rifampin resulted in a decreased ability to isolate DNA in the M-band. Analysis of attachment of the chromosome to membrane during the cell and replication cycles indicated that the chromosome is not released from the membrane at any time during the cell cycle.

Bacillus subtilis↗

Altered accumulation of a membrane protein unique to a membrane-deoxyribonucleic acid complex in a dna initiation mutant of Bacillus subtilis.

Membrane-deoxyribonucleic acid complexes (M-bands) have been isolated from Bacillus subtilis by their affinity for crystals of Mg2+-Sarkosyl. The membrane proteins of these complexes were analyzed by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. Comparison of the membrane protein composition of M-band and unfractionated membrane revealed three protein components of 125,000 (mac-1), 57,000 (mac-2), and 42,000 (mac-3) daltons unique to M-band membrane. Growth of a temperature-sensitive dna initiation mutant at the restrictive temperature resulted in an accumulation in the membrane of mac-2. This accumulation did not begin, however, until cell growth had nearly ceased, some 3 to 4 h after the cessation of deoxyribonucleic acid synthesis. Upon return of the mutant to the permissive temperature, mac-2 did not begin to return to normal levels until after the first round of deoxyribonucleic acid synthesis. A protein of 30,000 daltons, common to both M-band and whole membrane, was found to disappear from the membrane when the mutant was grown at the restrictive temperature. This disappearance is the result of increased degradation or removal from the membrane followed by a decreased rate of synthesis or insertion.

Bacillus subtilis↗