Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 8, 2026

High Throughput, Real-time, Dual-readout Testing of Intracellular Antimicrobial Activity and Eukaryotic Cell Cytotoxicity
Published on: November 16, 2016
Polyene macrolide antibiotic cytotoxicity and membrane permeability alterations. II. Phenotypic expression in
Abstract:
Cytotoxicity and membrane permeability alterations induced by the polyene macrolide antibiotics filipin (FIL) and pimaricin (PIM) have been compared in parental intraspecific and interspecific somatic cell hybrids. B82 (mouse) and B1 (hamster) cells were found to be more resistant than RAG (mouse) parental cells to both polyene macrolides as indicated by 24-hour survival, 72-hour viability, and growth rate. Analysis of both intraspecific and interspecific somatic cell hybrids indicated that polyene macrolide resistance was being expressed even in the presence of the polyene macrolide-sensitive (RAG) genome. Where one of the two parental cell types is relatively polyene macrolide resistant, the use of specific polyene macrolides may prove efficacious as half-selective agents in cell hybridization.
Insights
Polyene macrolide antibiotics filipin and pimaricin showed differential cytotoxicity in somatic cell hybrids. Resistance was observed even with sensitive genomes, suggesting potential use in cell hybridization selection.
Area of Science:
- Cell Biology
- Pharmacology
- Genetics
Background:
- Polyene macrolide antibiotics like filipin (FIL) and pimaricin (PIM) are known to affect cell membrane permeability and exhibit cytotoxicity.
- Understanding the differential response of various cell types to these antibiotics is crucial for applications in cell biology and genetic engineering.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare the cytotoxicity and membrane permeability alterations induced by filipin and pimaricin in parental and hybrid somatic cells.
- To investigate the expression of polyene macrolide resistance in intraspecific and interspecific somatic cell hybrids.
Main Methods:
- Comparative analysis of cell survival, viability, and growth rates of B82 (mouse), B1 (hamster), and RAG (mouse) cells exposed to filipin and pimaricin.
- Assessment of polyene macrolide resistance in intraspecific (e.g., mouse x mouse) and interspecific (e.g., mouse x hamster) somatic cell hybrids.
Main Results:
- B82 and B1 cells demonstrated higher resistance to both filipin and pimaricin compared to RAG cells.
- Polyene macrolide resistance was consistently expressed in somatic cell hybrids, irrespective of the presence of the sensitive RAG genome.
- The study identified differential resistance patterns among the tested cell lines.
Conclusions:
- Polyene macrolide antibiotics exhibit varying levels of cytotoxicity and membrane permeability effects on different mammalian cell lines.
- Somatic cell hybridization can lead to the stable expression of polyene macrolide resistance.
- Specific polyene macrolides may serve as effective half-selective agents in cell hybridization protocols when parental cells exhibit differential resistance.

