Reversibly permeable hepatoma cells in culture

A brief treatment of H35 hepatoma cells with lysolecithin resulted in a cell population which is permeable to low-molecular weight charged molecules that cannot normally cross the plasma membrane. These include deoxynucleotide and nucleotide triphosphates, folyl and methotrexate polyglutamates, and trypan blue. As a result dTTP can be incorporated into the DNA of the permeable cells, providing the required nucleotides and deoxynucleotides are added to the medium. This result, combined with only a slight observed loss (20-25%) in total cell protein, lactate dehydrogenase (EC 1.1.1.27) activity and tyrosine aminotransferase (EC 2.6.1.5) activity, demonstrated that permeation of the cells does not extensively disrupt membrane integrity. Further support for this view comes from the fact that the permeable cells could seal when placed in enriched medium. The process of sealing was inhibited by cycloheximide and tunicamycin. The sealed cells, whose surfaces appeared identical to those of untreated cells by scanning electron microscopy, were fully capable of cell division when exposed to serum. Values for several other parameters, including dexamethasone-dependent tyrosine aminotransferase induction, thymidine incorporation into DNA, leucine incorporation into protein and folate coenzyme transport, supported the conclusion that sealed cells and untreated H35 cells have identical properties. Based on the characteristics of the permeable and sealed H35 cells, a discussion of the experimental potential of these preparations for studying macromolecular synthesis, investigating enzymes in situ and depleting cells of folate coenzymes is presented.