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Uncontrolled nuclear division in normal x transformed somatic cell hybrids
I Hickey1, C McConville, M McMenamin
1Department of Biology, Queen's University of Belfast, Northern Ireland, UK.
The British Journal of Cancer. Supplement
|December 1, 1988
Summary
Transformed cells exhibit uncontrolled nuclear division (UND). Somatic cell hybrids showed UND suppression, but re-expression occurred in some human-mouse hybrids, suggesting varied genetic control mechanisms for UND.
Area of Science:
- Cell biology
- Genetics
- Cancer research
Background:
- Uncontrolled nuclear division (UND) is a hallmark of cancer cells in vitro.
- This phenomenon, marked by multinucleation, is observed when cell division is blocked.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the genetic underpinnings of the transformation phenotype.
- To understand the mechanisms controlling uncontrolled nuclear division in transformed cells.
Main Methods:
- Generation of somatic cell hybrids between transformed and normal cells.
- Analysis of uncontrolled nuclear division (UND) in hybrid cell lines.
- Utilizing cytochalasin B to inhibit cell division and induce multinucleation.
Main Results:
- All somatic cell hybrids displayed suppression of UND.
- Suppression of UND was transient in some hybrid cell lines.
- In human-mouse hybrids, UND re-emerged only if the human cells were SV40-transformed.
Conclusions:
- The genetic control of UND induction and suppression may differ across cell types.
- Somatic cell hybridization is a valuable tool for dissecting the genetic basis of cell transformation.
- SV40 transformation status influences UND re-expression in human-mouse hybrids.