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R Sager

Publications and source records attributed to R Sager.

At least 127 records · Page 7Linked to original sources

DNA transfer of focus- and tumor-forming ability into nontumorigenic CHEF cells.

CHEF/18 fibroblastic cells derived from a Chinese hamster embryo are diploid and nontumorigenic and require multiple steps of chemical treatment and selection to produce tumorigenic derivatives. In this report, CHEF/18 cells and a mutant capable of growing in medium with a low concentration of serum, LS1-1, were recipients in DNA transfer experiments using the calcium phosphate coprecipitation method. Focus formation with donor DNAs from tumor-derived CHEF cells and from human bladder carcinoma cell line EJ gave yields of 0.02-0.59 focus per microgram of DNA per 10(6) recipients. In one experiment in which CHEF/18 cells were transfected with EJ DNA, the presence of human DNA was detected in five of seven foci by using a cloned Alu sequence. Cells from one of these foci gave rise to tumors in nude mice, and the DNA produced secondary CHEF/18 transfectants. Because normal human cells as well as CHEF/18 cells require multiple stages to become tumorigenic, these findings suggest that EJ cells contain tumor-inducing DNA as the result of prior changes that occurred during the development of this carcinoma.

Animals↗

Multistep origin of tumor-forming ability in Chinese hamster embryo fibroblast cells.

Twenty-one anchorage-independent subclones and ten subclones with reduced serum requirements were isolated as single-step mutants spontaneously or after ethylmethanesulfonate or N-methyl-N'-nitro-N-nitrosoguanidine mutagenesis of CHEF/18 diploid Chinese hamster embryo fibroblasts. Anchorage-independent mutants retain the high serum requirement and nontransformed morphology typical of CHEF/18. Only four of 21 anchorage mutants have spontaneously produced tumors when injected at 10(7)/site in nude mice, and these were only at a fraction of sites. Low-serum (LS) mutants acquire transformed morphology and increased anchorage-independent growth simultaneously with the loss of high-serum requirement. Only two of ten LS mutants have spontaneously produced tumors. However, when some anchorage and LS mutants were remutagenized and when mutagenized populations were injected into nude mice, tumors appeared at many of the injected sites. In contrast, untreated CHEF/18 cells have never given tumors(0 of 34 sites), and mutagenized DHEF/18 cells have given tumors at only three of 29 sites. These results demonstrate that malignant transformation is a multistep process in the Chinese hamster embryo fibroblast system. Most one-step mutants selected for anchorage independence or reduced serum requirements do not have tumor-forming potentials higher than that of the parent CHEF/18. Thus anchorage-independent and LS phenotypes per se do not account for the increase in tumor-forming potential. It is proposed that the genomic rearrangement process as well as specific mutations may contribute to tumorigenicity.

4-Nitroquinoline-1-oxide↗

Genetic analysis of tumorigenesis: IX Suppression of anchorage independence in hybrids between transformed hamster cell lines.

In many hybrid cell systems fusion of normal cells to tumorigenic cells suppresses the transformed phenotype. We have now examined the expression of anchorage independence, one characteristic of the transformed phenotype, in hybrids between different anchorage-independent Chinese hamster fibroblasts. Examination of many different crosses was facilitated by a rapid screening procedure. Instead of isolating individual hybrid clones, the fraction of hybrid cells that were anchorage independent was estimated directly after fusion and compared to the total hybrid recovery. Seven different anchorage-independent cell lines were crossed to derivatives of the previously characterized CHEF/16 tumorigenic cell line. Two of these cell lines gave anchorage-independent hybrids, while the 5 others gave anchorage-dependent hybrids. These results support previous observations with interspecies hybrids that the transformed phenotype can be suppressed in hybrids between transformed cells. We interpret these results as showing that there are at least two alternative genomic changes by which Chinese hamster fibroblasts can become anchorage independent.

Animals↗

Genomic rearrangements in a mouse cell line containing integrated SV40 DNA.

In the SV40-transformed mouse embryo fibroblast cell line SVT2/S, genomic rearrangements involving the SV40 DNA and flanking host sequences were identified by Southern blot hybridization using viral DNA as probe. No rearrangements of SV40 DNA integrated into nonpermissive mouse cells have been previously described. The standard arrangement found in the majority of subclones was mapped with 20 restriction enzymes, 10 of which cleave sites within the SV40 DNA. A single copy of a defective integrated viral genome is present, in which the late region is missing from about nucleotide 200 clockwise to about nucleotide 1750. The rest of the viral genome including the origin of replication and T antigen binding region is present and colinear with SV40 DNA, except for an internal repeat of about 1750 bp located between nucleotides 2750 and 4500. Rearrangements were found in 4 out of 20 random subclones of the parental SVT2/S cell line and 3 of the 4 continued to rearrange. The thioguanine-resistant cell line 281-1-4, derived from SVT2/S, remained stable on subculture but a chloramphenicol-resistant mutant, 107-6-4, derived from 281-1-4, was highly unstable. In 107-6-4, unique rearrangements were found in 6 of 31 subclones of a population that had undergone abut 25 doublings from a single-cell isolate. The high rate of rearrangement and the sporadic expression of rearrangement potential are characteristic of the transposable controlling elements discovered by McClintock.

Animals↗

The mat-1 gene in Chlamydomonas regulates DNA methylation during gametogenesis.

The inheritance of chloroplast genes in Chlamydomonas is regulated by methylation of chloroplast DNA during gametogenesis. The wild-type pattern of maternal inheritance results from the methylation of chloroplast DNA in female (mt+) but not in male (mt-) gametes, leading to preferential degradation of chloroplast DNA of male origin in zygotes. This paper describes the distribution of 5-methyl cytosine residues in restriction fragments of chloroplast DNA sampled during gametogenesis by two methods: ethidium bromide staining of agarose gels, and binding of antibody directed against 5-methyl cytosine onto restriction fragments blotted to nitro-cellulose paper. Methylated cytosines are located in most if not all Eco RI and Msp I fragments, but the extent of methylation is not proportional to fragment size. The mat-1 mutation carried by males converts maternal inheritance. Chloroplast DNA of male gametes carrying the mat-1 mutation becomes methylated during gametogenesis. This methylation protects against restriction enzyme-promoted degradation in zygotes, as shown by physical data demonstrating the transmission to progeny of chloroplast genes carried on chloroplast DNA of the mat-1 male parent. Thus the mat-1 gene, which is linked to the mating-type locus, determines whether or not methylation of chloroplast DNA will occur in males during gametogenesis.

Chlamydomonas↗

Differential activity of DNA methyltransferase in the life cycle of Chlamydomonas reinhardi.

Two molecular weight forms of DNA (cytosine-5-)-methyltransferase [S-adenosyl-L-methionine:DNA (cytosine-5-)- methyltransferase, EC 2.1.1.37], both active in assays in vitro, were isolated from the green alga Chlamydomonas reinhardi at various stages of the life cycle. The enzyme with Mr 60,000 was found in vegetative cells and gametes of both male (mt-) and female (mt+) mating types. The enzyme with Mr 200,000 was specific to gametic cells and zygotes, which are the only stages at which methylation of chloroplast DNA occurs in vivo. Chloroplast DNA from gametes was shown to be methylated on both strands at most if not all methylation sites and the Mr 200,000 enzyme was shown to methylate both unmethylated and hemimethylated sites, the latter at an elevated rate. Micrococcus luteus DNA showed the same nearest-neighbor frequencies of methylation after methylation by each molecular weight component. The data suggest strongly that the Mr 200,000 enzyme is the active multimeric form of the Mr 60,000 enzyme and that it acts as both initiation and maintenance methylase. It is proposed that methylation of chloroplast DNA in female gametes and zygotes is regulated by assembly of the multimeric Mr 200,000 active enzyme, which in turm determines the maternal inheritance of chloroplast DNA.

Chlamydomonas↗

Genetic analysis of tumorigenesis. VIII. Suppression of SV40 transformation in cell hybrids and cytoplasmic transferants.

Intraspecies somatic cell hybrids of BALB/c mouse 3T3 and SV40-transformed embryonic fibroblast (SVT2) cells were analyzed for transformation-associated properties and their tumorigenic potential in nude mice. In confirmation of our earlier findings, hybrids expressing the viral T-antigen were not suppressed for the ability to clone in medium with 1% serum. In contrast, division rate in medium with 1% or 10% serum, anchorage independence, cytochalasin-sensitive growth control, and tumorigenicity were suppressed noncoordinately, and the extent of suppression varied from one hybrid to another. Suppression was not simply determined by the increased chromosome content of the hybrid cells, nor was suppression correlated with rearrangements of the integrated viral sequence (SAGER et al., 1981a, b). Similar results were found in cytoplasmic transferants expressing T-antigen. Four independent transferants and subclones derived from them varied in the extent of suppression of anchorage independence and tumorigenicity. In both hybrids and transferants, a low serum requirement for clonal growth apparently was determined solely by expression of SV40 T-antigen, but other transformation properties, as well as tumorigenicity, appeared to require multiple changes in the cellular genome for their expression. These changes must occur during or after viral integration, since they are not expressed in uninfected 3T3 cells.

Animals↗

Genetic analysis of tumorigenesis: VI. Chromosome rearrangements in tumors derived from diploid premalignant Chinese hamster cells in nude mice.

The chromosome constitution of CHEF/16 clones recovered from methylcellulose and of uncloned, tumor-derived CHEF/16 populations are compared. Nine of 11 clones recovered from methycellulose were initiated by diploid cells. Moreover, chromosomally diploid cells were still present in most CHEF/16 clones even after growth in anchorage-independent conditions. In contrast, none of the CHEF/16 cells recovered from tumors were diploid. Nonrandom chromosome changes were observed, but no specific chromosome alterations were consistently found in tumor-derived CHEF cells. Although CHEF/16 cells are uniformly tumorigenic in nude mice, each of 10 uncloned tumor-derived populations from inocula of 10(2), 10(4), and 10(6) CHEF/16 cells consisted of only 1-3 stemlines. Our results show that diploid CHEF/16 cells are premalignant and undergo karyotypic changes leading to successful and usually clonal establishment of tumors in nude mice.

Animals↗

Genetic analysis of tumorigenesis: V. Chromosomal analysis of tumorigenic and nontumorigenic diploid chinese hamster cell lines.

The chromosomal constitution of four established diploid Chinese hamster embryo fibroblast (CHEF) cell lines is described. CHEF/18 exhibits anchorage-dependent growth and is not tumorigenic in nude mice. CHEF/16 has a high plating efficiency in methylcellulose and is highly tumorigenic in nude mice. Both CHEF/8 and CHEF/16 have a normal Giemsa banding pattern and constitutive heterochromatin distribution characteristic of normal diploid Chinese hamster cells and exhibit relatively little chromosomal variation within their cell populations. These results suggest that the nuclear changes responsible for tumorigenicity of CHEF/16 involve alterations below the level detectable by Giemsa banding analysis. Chromosome rearrangements were detected in two other CHEF cell lines; CHEF/205-30, a diploid, thioguanine-resistant derivative of CHEF/18, and CHEF/204-Bu 50, a diploid, 5-bromodeoxyuridine-resistant derivative of CHEF/16, which are being used as genetic markers in intraspecific somatic cell hybrids.

Animals↗

Cytoplasmic transfer of DNA containing simian virus 40 sequences into mouse 3T3 cells.

This paper describes the rare cytoplasmic transmission of defective simian virus 40 (SV40) viral DNA from enucleated cells (i.e., cytoplasts) of the SV40-transformed mouse cell line SVT2 (chloramphenicol-resistant) into cybrid cells formed by fusion of these cytoplasts with BALB/c 3T3 cells (thymidine kinase-deficient). The cybrids were selected in medium containing 1% serum, bromodeoxyuridine, and chloramphenicol. They were identified by their 3T3 chromosome content, by the instability of tumor (T)-antigen expression, by their transformed phenotype, and by their drug resistance. The yield of rare cybrids was about 5 x 10(-7) 0.1% of the yield on medium with 10% serum. The presence of the SV40 genome was detected by the expression of SV40-specific T antigen and confirmed (unpublished data) by hybridization of viral DNA probes with restriction enzyme fragments of nuclear DNAs from cybrid clones. Restriction site mapping (unpublished data) showed that at least 1 kilobase of host flanking DNA on each side of the SV40 DNA was included in the transferred segment. The transforming DNA was not stably integrated initially, as judged by cellular heterogeneity in T-antigen expression. Stable T-antigen-positive and negative subclones were recovered in 10% serum; instability could be retained for at least 30 doublings during growth in 1% serum. The instability is interpreted as evidence of non-integration or unstable integration of the transferred DNA into the host genome. The cytoplasmic transfer is interpreted as evidence that chromosomal fragments or intact chromosomes can be transferred rarely through the cytoplasm in cybrid crosses.

Animals↗

Identification of 5-methylcytosine in DNA fragments immobilized on nitrocellulose paper.

A method to identify 5-methylcytosine (m5Cyt) in DNA immobilized on nitrocellulose paper by using antibody against m5Cyt raised in rabbits is described. Immobilized restriction fragments of DNA are incubated first with purified antibody against m5Cyt and then with goat anti-rabbit IgG labeled with 125I. Restriction fragments containing m5Cyt are visualized by autoradiography. By using this method, a heavily methylated fragment of about 1700 base pairs was identified in nuclear DNA fom Chinese hamster cells, the methylation pattern of calf thymus satellite I DNA was examined, and chloroplast DNAs that were extracted from various stage of the Chlamydomonas life cycle were compared. Little if any methylation was detected in chloroplast DNA from vegetative cells or from male gametes, whereas homologous DNAs from female gametes and from zygotes were heavily methylated. The sensitivity of the method was examined with calf thymus satellite I DNA (which contains approximately 40 m5Cyt residues per repeat unit of 1400 base pairs) and with phi X174 virion DNA (which contains a single m5Cyt per molecule). The presence of m5Cyt was detected with as little as 40 ng of phi X174 DNA containing 0.02 pmol of m5Cyt and with 100 ng of satellite DNA containing about 0.5 pmol of m5Cyt. Thus, the method makes possible the identification of individual methylated sites in purified DNAs in the size range of single genes.

5-Methylcytosine↗

Regulation of the Chlamydomonas cell cycle by light and dark.

By growing cells in alternating periods of light and darkness, we have found that the synchronization of phototrophically grown Chlamydomonas populations is regulated at two specific points in the cell cycle: the primary arrest (A) point, located in early G1, and the transition (T) point, located in mid-G1. At the A point, cell cycle progression becomes light dependent. At the T point, completion of the cycle becomes independent of light. Cells transferred from light to dark at cell cycle position between the two regulatory points enter a reversible resting state in which they remain viable and metabolically active, but do not progress through their cycles. The photosystem II inhibitor dichlorophenyldimethylurea (DCMU) mimics the A point block induced by darkness. This finding indicates that the A point block is mediated by a signal that operates through photosynthetic electron transport. Cells short of the T point will arrest in darkness although they contain considerable carbohydrate reserves. After the T point, a sharp increase occurs in starch degradation and in the endogenous respiration rate, indicating that some internal block to the availability of stored energy reserves has now been released, permitting cell cycle progression.

Carbon Dioxide↗

Deoxyribonucleic acid methyltransferase from the eukaryote, Chlamydomonas reinhardi.

DNA methyltransferase was purified 310-fold from a green alga, Chlamydomonas reinhardi vegetative cells. The native enzyme of molecular weight 55 000--58 000 catalyzed the transfer of methyl groups from S-adenosylmethionine to the 5 position of cytosine in DNA. Native DNA accepted methyl groups 10-fold more than did denatured DNA. The sequence specificity analysis of methylated deoxycytidine in vitro revealed that the enzyme introduces methyl groups preferentially into sequences containing 5'd(T-mC-R)3'. Kinetic analysis of the reaction indicated that the enzyme obeys a random sequential mechanism. The extent of saturation with methyl groups depends upon the species from which the DNA was obtained. Kinetic analysis of the reaction catalyzed by RNA polymerase II has indicated that DNA methylation decreases the rate of initiation of RNA synthesis, but does not affect the rate of RNA chain elongation.

Base Sequence↗

Noncoordinate expression of SV40-induced transformation and tumorigenicity in mouse cell hybrids.

Somatic mouse cells hybrids formed by fusion of nontumorigenic 3T3 closely related SV40-transformed SVT2 cells were analyzed in a study designed to probe the genetic basis of the multiple phenotypic changes induced by SV40 transformation. These hybrids showed noncoordinate expression of the transformation phenotype. Although they cloned at high efficiency in medium with low serum and expressed the SV40 T-antigen of the SVT2 parent, hybrid cells grew poorly without anchorage and exhibited a cell and colony morphology intermediate between that of the parents. Tumorigenicity was assayed quantitatively by subcutaneous coinjection into athymic nude mice of serial dilutions of 10(2) to 10(5) hybrid cells with 10(7) lethally irradiated 3T3 cells. The results showed that 100--1000 times more hybrid cells had to be injected for tumor formation than were required with SVT2. These and other observations show that most 3T3/SVT2 hybrid cells are not tumorigenic but that each population contains a rare subset of tumorigenic cells.

Animals↗

Genetic analysis of tumorigenesis: IV. Chromosome reduction and marker segregation in progeny clones from Chinese hamster cell hybrids.

Hybrid cells produced by the fusion of pairs of cells, one a tumorigenic derivative of CHEF/16 and the other a nontumorigenic derivative of CHEF/18, give rise to clones which are largely tetraploid, but rare reduced hybrids with chromosome counts in the diploid range have been recovered from tumors of hybrid origin. This paper describes the recovery in cell culture of reduced hybrids in the diploid range by selection with 5-bromodeoxyuridine (BrdU) or methylcellulose as well as by growth in culture of cells from excised tumors. All selected subclones were tumorigenic and resistant to BrdU, but they segregated for resistance to 6-thioguanine. Unselected subclones were tetraploid, nontumorigenic, and sensitive to both drugs. These data show that chromosome reassortment as well as extensive chromosome reduction both occur in a small fraction of the population during growth of each hybrid clone.

Animals↗