Terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase expression in a Thy-l alloantigen variant lymphoma cell line

Terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase (TdT) expression was examined in the clones of the radiation induced murine leukemia, RL male 1, which differ in Thy-1.2 alloantigen expression and tumourigenicity in syngeneic mice. Both cell lines displayed predominant cytoplasmic localization of TdT and equal sensitivities to specific TdT inhibitors. The R1 male 1.3 + cell line (Thy-1.2 positive and tumourigenic) demonstrated overall higher levels of TdT activity and different elution patterns on phosphocellulose chromatography compared with the RL male 1.4 - (Thy-1.2 negative and poorly tumourgenic) cell line. These findings suggest an association of TdT expression with tumourigenicity properties in leukemic T lymphocytes.