Polyclonal antibody-mediated mitotic inhibition in Chinese hamster ovary cells

The nucleus of a mammalian cell undergoes profound reorganization when the cell enters mitosis and a number of proteins involved at various levels of the cell cycle have been characterized. The presence of mitotic-specific proteins has been reported and their roles are important in understanding the mechanics of cell division. The ability of antibodies to recognize mitotic protein antigens and further inhibit mitosis is potentially valuable in their role as therapeutic and diagnostic agents in cancer therapy. In this study, we have aimed to analyze proteins isolated from mitotic cells of Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells and their significant role in inhibiting mitosis. The proteins extracted from mitotic cells were processed and antibodies produced. It was observed that the secondary response that yielded an antiserum of 1:8 titer was predominantly IgG. The antiserum was effective in inhibiting mitosis in CHO cells in culture in a dose-dependent manner. Although inhibition of mitosis was apparent by cell proliferation studies, there was no apparent effect of the antiserum on other cell morphology and culture characteristics. The unique molecular structure of the antibody by which it bivalently binds to a broad array of antigenic epitopes serves as the foundation of its utility. These antibodies, being polyclonal in nature, are targeted against a whole range of proteins; and their multiple epitopes involved in process of cell division might hence mediate recognition or inhibition of function of such proteins in a wholesome manner and thus accomplish inhibition of mitotic progression.