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Induction of syncytia by Moloney murine leukemia virus in myoblasts defective in differentiation
Abstract:
fu-1 cells, a nonfusing variant of the L8 line of rat myoblasts, form syncytia upon infection with murine leukemia virus (MuLV) or upon cocultivation with MuLV-infected cells; L8 cells do not form these syncytia, but do fuse into multinucleate myotubes. Syncytia of fu-1 cells form within 1 h after infection. The number of syncytia formed is proportional to the multiplicity of virus within a range of 4 to 16 and is maximum when the cell density is subconfluent. When either XC or fu-1 cells are productively infected with MuLV, they become resistant to syncytia formation by passage 3. The rapid formation of syncytia in fu-1 cells was found amenable for selection of temperature-sensitive mutants of MuLV and for screening additional variants of the L8 line.
Insights
fu-1 cells, a rat myoblast variant, rapidly form syncytia after murine leukemia virus (MuLV) infection. This syncytia formation is useful for selecting viral mutants and cell variants.
Area of Science:
- Cell Biology
- Virology
- Myogenesis
Background:
- L8 rat myoblasts differentiate into multinucleate myotubes.
- fu-1 cells are a nonfusing variant of L8 myoblasts.
- Murine leukemia virus (MuLV) can induce cell fusion.
Purpose of the Study:
- To characterize syncytia formation in fu-1 cells upon MuLV infection.
- To evaluate the utility of fu-1 cells for mutant selection and variant screening.
Main Methods:
- Infection of fu-1 cells with MuLV.
- Cocultivation of fu-1 cells with MuLV-infected cells.
- Monitoring syncytia formation and cell density.
- Assessing resistance to syncytia formation after productive infection.
Main Results:
- fu-1 cells form syncytia rapidly (within 1 hour) after MuLV infection.
- Syncytia formation is proportional to MuLV multiplicity (4-16) and maximal at subconfluent densities.
- Productively MuLV-infected fu-1 cells become resistant to further syncytia formation.
- fu-1 cells are suitable for selecting temperature-sensitive MuLV mutants.
Conclusions:
- fu-1 cells provide a rapid and efficient system for studying MuLV-induced cell fusion.
- This system is valuable for the selection of viral mutants and screening of cell variants.