Reprogramming cell differentiation in the absence of DNA synthesis

We examined whether the activation of muscle gene expression in nonmuscle cells required DNA synthesis. Human fibroblasts from amniotic fluid and fetal lung were fused with differentiated mouse muscle cells in the presence or absence of the DNA synthesis inhibitor, cytosine arabinoside. In the stable heterokaryons formed, the human contractile enzyme, MM-creatine kinase (CK), and the cell surface antigen, 5.1H11, were detected in comparable amounts regardless of whether DNA synthesis had occurred. A single cell analysis revealed that the efficiency of gene activation was high and that DNA synthetic activity was not affected by the ratio of muscle to nonmuscle nuclei in the heterokaryons. In addition, muscle gene expression was not restricted to the G1 phase of the cell cycle. We conclude that cell differentiation can be reprogrammed in heterokaryons regardless of cell cycle phase and in the absence of detectable DNA synthesis.