Chromosomes of G2 arrested cells are easily analyzed by use of the 'tsBN2' mutation

The tsBN2 cell line, a temperature sensitive (ts) mutant of the BHK21/13 cell line (Nishimoto, T. et al. Somatic Cell Genet. 4, 323-340, 1978) has a ts defect in its regulatory mechanism for the initiation of chromosome condensation, the so-called, premature chromosome condensation (PCC) being induced at a nonpermissive temperature (Nishimoto, T. et al. Cell 15, 475-483, 1978, Nishimoto, T. et al. J. Cell Physiol. 109, 299-308, 1981). Using the 'tsBN2' mutation, we analyzed chromosomes of tsBN2 cells arrested in the G2 phase with neocarzinostatin (NCS) and found considerable aberrations, such as gaps, breaks and double minutes-like fragmentation, in addition to a typical G2-chromosome (a long filamental chromosome made up of two chromatids). Our results provide evidences that the tsBN2 cell line can be used for examinations of the chromosomes of cells arrested in the G2 phase.