A new complementation group of mitomycin C-hypersensitive Chinese hamster cell mutants that closely resembles the phenotype of fanconi anemia cells.

Three Mitomycin C (MMC)-hypersensitive mutants (CL-V1B, CL-V5B, and CL-V101B) were isolated from Chinese hamster V79B cells by the replica plating technique. In comparison to the parental cell line, CL-V1B, CL-V5B, and CL-V101B show about a 22-, 32-, and 13-fold increased sensitivity to MMC, respectively (judged by the D10). These mutants are also sensitive to other DNA cross-linking agents, such as 1,2,3,4-diepoxybutane (9-, 19-, and 12-fold, respectively) and cis-diamminedichloroplatinum(II) (17-, 12-, and 6-fold, respectively). CL-V5B and CL-V101B display an exclusive sensitivity to DNA cross-linking agents, whereas CL-V1B also shows an increased sensitivity to monofunctional alkylating agents, such as methyl methanesulfonate (3-fold) and ethyl methanesulfonate (2-fold), and UV254mm (2-fold). Approximately 2-3-fold higher levels of spontaneous chromosomal aberrations are found in these three mutants in comparison to wild-type V79B cells. At a MMC survival level of 80%, CL-V5B demonstrates a 16-fold higher level of MMC-induced chromosomal damage than V79B. Despite phenotypical heterogeneity within this group of mutants, hybrid clones derived after fusion remained MMC sensitive, indicating that these mutants belong to the same complementation group. To determine whether the mutants represent a new complementation group among other Chinese hamster cell mutants that also display hypersensitivity to MMC, CL-V1B cells were fused with mutants representing different complementation groups i.e., irs1, irs3, irs1SF, UV20, UV41, V-H4, and V-C8 cells. In all cases, the derived hybrids regained MMC sensitivity similar to wild-type cells, indicating that the CL-V1B mutant represents a new complementation group. The phenotype of CL-V1B, CL-V5B, and CL-V101B cells closely resembles the phenotype of Fanconi anemia cells, suggesting that these hamster mutants could be defective in a gene that is involved in this disorder.

A fourth complementation group among ionizing radiation-sensitive Chinese hamster cell mutants defective in DNA double-strand break repair.

The XR-V9B mutant of Chinese hamster V79 cells which exhibits hypersensitivity to ionizing radiation was isolated by the replica plating technique. The increased sensitivity of XR-V9B cells to X rays (approximately 4-fold, as judged by the D10) was accompanied by increased sensitivity to other DNA-damaging agents such as bleomycin (approximately 17-fold), VP16 (approximately 6-fold), and adriamycin (approximately 5-fold). Only a slightly increased sensitivity was observed after exposure to UV radiation, MMS, or mitomycin C (1.4-, 1.7-, and 2-fold, respectively). As measured by neutral elution after exposure to X rays, XR-V9B cells showed a defect in the rejoining of double-strand breaks (DSBs); after 4 h of repair more than 50% of DSBs remained in comparison to 5% in wild-type cells. No difference was observed in the kinetics of single-strand break rejoining between XR-V9B and wild-type cells, as measured by alkaline elution. To determine whether XR-V9B represents a new complementation group among ionizing radiation-sensitive Chinese hamster cell mutants defective in DSB repair, XR-V9B cells were fused with XR-V15B, XR-1, and V-3 cells, which have impaired DSB rejoining and belong to three different complementation groups. In all cases, the derived hybrids regained the sensitivity of wild-type cells when exposed to X rays, indicating that the XR-V9B mutant represents a new fourth complementation group among X-ray-sensitive Chinese hamster cell mutants defective in DSB repair.