Distribution of surface anionic sites on mouse hybrid myelomas

The surface anionic site distribution on membranes of a monoclonal antibody-producing hybridoma cell line, and its two parental cells: normal spleen cells of immunized BALB/c mice and cells from a mouse myeloma line (NS-1), were investigated with the aid of the cationized ferritin (CF) labelling method, following glutaraldehyde/formaldehyde fixation of cells. The patch-like CF distribution on the hybridoma cells is similar to that of the NS-1 myeloma cells, but distinct from the even and continuous CF distribution of the immunized and nonimmunized normal spleen lymphocytes. The similarity in the formation of patch-like CF heaps, both on myeloma and hybrid cells is discussed in respect to the surface charge characteristic determined by cell fusion.