The linkage of genes for the human interferon-induced antiviral protein and indophenol oxidase-B traits to chromosome G-21.

13 independent mouse-human somatic cell hybrid clones derived from beta-propiolactone-inactivated Sendai stimulated cell fusion of human cells with mouse cells were tested for their sensitivities to human and mouse interferon. All of them were protected by mouse interferon and only six of the clones were protected by both human and mouse interferon. Only the six that were protected by human interferon were shown to express the human dimeric form of indophenol oxidase. Complete chromosomal analysis of the clones indicated human chromosome G-21 to be the only human chromosome in common for the six clones which had both phenotypes present. Nine subclones were derived from one of the clones expressing both phenotypes. Eight of the nine subclones were shown to retain both phenotypes, whereas one subclone lost both. Chromosomal analysis of the subclones indicated the loss of chromosome G-21 from the subclone which lost both phenotypes. It is apparent from these findings that the gene(s) for indophenol oxidase (IPO-B) and the gene(s) for the antiviral protein are syntenic and that they are linked to human chromosome G-21.

J chain is encoded by a single gene unlinked to other immunoglobulin structural genes.

Immunoglobulin J chain mediates the polymerization of both IgM and IgA immunoglobulins. Its synthesis is closely regulated in B lymphocytes, apparently at the level of RNA transcription. To define the genetic bases of this regulation, we have determined the location and number of J chain genes in the mouse. Analysis of DNA from a group of somatic cell hybrids containing various mouse chromosomes on a constant background of Chinese hamster chromosomes indicated that this gene is located on mouse chromosome 5, unlinked to immunoglobulin heavy and light chain structural genes. Restriction mapping experiments further suggested the existence of a single J chain gene per haploid genome. This result was confirmed by quantitative analyses of band intensities yielded by Southern blots of mouse genomic DNA and J gene-containing plasmid DNA.

Chromosomal location of the structural gene cluster encoding murine immunoglobulin heavy chains.

To determine the chromosomal location of mouse immunoglobulin heavy chain structural genes unambiguously, a panel of somatic cell hybrids was scored for the presence of DNA sequences homologous to gamma 2b-, mu-, and alpha-heavy chain-constant region DNA probe molecules. The hybrids, formed between mouse and hamster cells, contained various combinations of mouse chromosomes plus a full set of hamster chromosomes. Hybrids that retained mouse chromosome 12 reacted with the probes, whereas hybrids that had lost the chromosome, or its distal half, failed to react. These results indicate that structural genes for the gamma 2b-, mu-, and alpha-heavy chain-constant regions map to the distal half of this chromosome.

Chromosomal location of structural genes encoding murine immunoglobulin lambda light chains. Genetics of murine lambda light chains.

To determine the chromosomal localization of murine lambda light (L) chain structural genes, DNA from a panel of 11 mouse x hamster somatic cell hybrids was scored for the presence of sequences homologous to cloned lambda DNA probe molecules. Six of the hybrids had detectable lambda I and lambda II gene sequences. In all six, the full complement of murine sequences was present, and in its germline configuration. The remaining hybrids lacked any detectable murine lambda L chain gene sequences. The only mouse chromosome present in all of the positive hybrids and absent from the negative ones was number 16, allowing the assignment of lambda L chain structural genes to this chromosome. Together with the previous assignments of the kappa L chain genes to chromosome 6 and heavy chain genes to chromosome 12, this finding completes the mapping of Ig structural genes in the mouse at the chromosomal level.

Chromosome assignment of the tumor-specific antigen of a 3-methylcholanthrene-induced mouse sarcoma.

Chemically induced sarcomas of inbred mice express antigens that are distinct and specific for each individual tumor. Chromosome assignment of tumor-specific antigens would help to elucidate the genetic basis of their diversity. Expression of the serologically defined Meth A sarcoma antigen is not suppressed in hybrid cells containing a complete foreign (Chinese hamster) genome. Chromosome and serologic analysis of microcell hybrids between Meth A sarcoma cells and Chinese hamster cells shows a clear correlation of Meth A antigen expression with the presence of the distal region of chromosome 12 (bands F1 and F2). Chromosome 16 may also be implicated. The significance of the close linkage of genes determining Meth A antigen expression with the immunoglobulin heavy chain gene cluster (on chromosome 12) and the lambda light chain genes (on chromosome 16) is discussed.

Multiple human beta interferon genes.

Analysis of human beta interferon (IFN) mRNA preparations obtained from poly(I) . poly (C)-induced human diploid fibroblasts (FS-4) and from several similarly induced human-mouse somatic cell hybrids by electrophoresis through agarose-CH3HgOH tube gels led to the detection of at least five translationally active human IFN-beta mRNA species. The results obtained are consistent with the existence of IFN-beta genes on different human chromosomes. Marked cell-dependent variability in the expression of these IFN mRNA species was observed.

Regional location of T cell receptor gene Ti alpha on human chromosome 14.

The chromosomal location of Ti alpha was determined by hybridization of a radiolabeled cDNA for the alpha chain of human T cell receptor with 12 human X mouse cell hybrid DNAs cleaved with BamHI. Seven hybrids contained human Ti alpha, while the remaining five lacked it. Only human chromosome 14 matched the distribution of human Ti alpha signal across the mapping panel. Hybrids segregating a chromosome 14 translocation were used to demonstrate that Ti alpha is in the region 14pter greater than 14q21. Thus, the alpha and beta chain genes that contribute structural components to the Ti moiety of the human T cell receptor lie on different chromosomes. In humans, the immunoglobulin heavy chain locus and Ti alpha are in different regions of chromosome 14, with Ti alpha more proximal and the immunoglobulin heavy chain locus more distal.

Genetic and biochemical characterization of human lymphocyte cell surface antigens. The A-1A5 and A-3A4 determinants.

The genes that code for the human lymphocyte cell surface determinants defined by monoclonal antibodies A- 1A5 and A- 3A4 have been genetically mapped. All human chromosomes, except Y, were included in a series of human less than mouse lymphocyte hybrid populations that retained expression of lymphocyte-specific surface markers. Expression of the A- 1A5 and A- 3A4 antigens was quantitated by indirect immunofluorescence and fluorescence-activated cell sorter (FACS) analysis. Hybrid populations heterogeneous for antigen expression were sorted to yield antigenically homogeneous subpopulations. Isozyme analysis indicated concordant segregation of the A- 1A5 determinant with chromosome 10, and the A- 3A4 determinant with chromosome 4. In contrast to the unhybridized human parent cell line (MOLT-4), from which A- 1A5 immunoprecipitated two proteins (160,000 and 125,000 Mr), A- 1A5 only immunoprecipitated a single band (125,000 Mr) from an A- 1A5 -expressing human less than mouse hybrid. The genetic disassociation of these two proteins from the A- 1A5 -reactive complex suggests that the appearance of the 160,000 Mr protein requires a gene locus that is unlinked to the locus for the 125,000 Mr protein on chromosome 10. A third component of the A- 1A5 -reactive protein complex (210,000 Mr), which is recognized by the monoclonal antibody TS2/7, was not expressed on the parent MOLT-4 cells, but was weakly expressed on MOLT-4 less than mouse BW5147 hybrids. This allowed preliminary mapping of that determinant to either chromosome 10 or 15. The A- 3A4 antigen (approximately 45,000 Mr) is a novel cell surface structure expressed on all hematopoietic cell lines tested, and represents the first cell surface marker mapped to chromosome 4.

Murine T cell receptor beta chain is encoded on chromosome 6.

Southern blot analysis of somatic cell hybrid lines indicates that the beta chain of the T cell receptor for antigen maps to chromosome 6 of the mouse. An experiment testing hybridization of the constant region of this gene to DNA from a hybrid cell line containing a translocation of chromosome 6 supports the localization of this gene to the proximal (centromeric) one-third of chromosome 6, in the same general region as the immunoglobulin kappa chain locus. This may be another indication of the shared evolutionary origins of the genes encoding both T and B cell antigen recognition.

Chromosomal location of a human alpha interferon gene family.

To determine the chromosomal location of the human alpha interferon genes, we scored a series of human/rodent somatic cell hybrids for the presence of DNA sequences hybridizing to an alpha 1 interferon DNA probe. The presence of human chromosome 9 in a hybrid correlated with the presence of a family of alpha interferon genes.

Controlled production of proliferating somatic cell hybrids.

The techniques described permit the controlled production of large numbers of proliferating somatic cell hybrids in a relatively short period of time. Sendai virus is used to promote cell hybridization. beta-propriolactone is employed as the inactivating agent of Sendai virus since it produces complete loss of viral infectivity while preserving viral fusion capacity. Cells are fused in monolayer, instead of in suspension, since fixing cells in two dimensions permits one to control cell contacts during the fusion event through the expedient of varying multiplicities of the parental cells and the total cell density. Under the conditions described, a several hundred fold increase in the number of hybrid clones obtained is seen as compared to the controls.

Mouse-human heterokaryon analysis with a 33258 Hoechst-Giemsa technique.

The bibenzimidazol derivative 33258 Hoechst can be used to distinguish microfluorometrically between mouse and human nuclei in heterokaryons. This affords a quick and accurate alternative to autoradiography in the analysis of such heterokaryons. The 33258 Hoechst fluorescence patterns can be converted after irradiation to a Giemsa rendition of the differential staining.

Cell proliferation and expression of the transferrin receptor gene: promoter sequence homologies and protein interactions.

A 365-bp fragment from the 5' region of the human transferrin receptor gene has been subcloned and sequenced. This fragment contains 115 bp of flanking sequence, the first exon, and a portion of the first intron. It contains a TATA box, several GC-rich regions, and is able to efficiently promote expression of the bacterial CAT gene in mouse 3T3 cells. Sequence comparisons demonstrate that this DNA segment has homology to the promoter regions of the human dihydrofolate reductase gene and the mouse interleukin 3 gene, as well as to a monkey DNA sequence that has homology to the SV40 origin and promotes expression of an unidentified gene product. Several high molecular mass proteins that interact with the transferrin receptor gene promoter have been identified. The activity of these proteins is transiently increased in 3T3 cells that have been stimulated by serum addition. This increase precedes a rise in transferrin receptor mRNA levels in the cytoplasm, which in turn precedes entry of the cells into S phase. DNase I footprinting of the transferrin receptor promoter reveals several protein binding sites. Two of the sites are within the conserved GC-rich region of the promoter. One of these binding sites probably interacts with Spl, while the second interacts with an uncharacterized protein.

Localization of the casein gene family to a single mouse chromosome.

A series of mouse-hamster somatic cell hybrids containing a variable number of mouse chromosomes and a constant set of hamster chromosomes have been used to determine the chromosomal location of a family of hormone-inducible genes, the murine caseins. Recombinant mouse cDNA clones encoding the alpha-, beta-, and gamma-caseins were constructed and used in DNA restriction mapping experiments. All three casein cDNAs hybridized to the same set of somatic cell hybrid DNAs isolated from cells containing mouse chromosome 5, while negative hybridization was observed to ten other hybrid DNAs isolated from cells lacking chromosome 5. A fourth cDNA clone, designated pCM delta 40, which hybridized to an abundant 790 nucleotide poly(A)RNA isolated from 6-d lactating mouse mammary tissue, was also mapped to chromosome 5. The chromosomal assignment of the casein gene family was confirmed using a mouse albumin clone. The albumin gene had been previously localized to mouse chromosome 5 by both breeding studies and analogous molecular hybridization experiments. An additional control experiment demonstrated that another hormone-inducible gene, specifying a 620 nucleotide abundant mammary gland mRNA, hybridized to DNA isolated from a different somatic cell hybrid line. These studies represent the first localization of a peptide and steroid hormone-responsive gene family to a single mouse chromosome.

DNA-mediated gene transfer without carrier DNA.

DNA-mediated gene transfer is a procedure which uses purified DNA to introduce new genetic elements into cells in culture. The standard DNA-mediated gene transfer procedure involves the use of whole cell DNA as carrier DNA for the transfer. We have modified the standard DNA-mediated gene transfer procedure to transfer the Herpes simplex virus type 1 thymidine kinase gene (TK) into TK- murine recipient cells in the absence of whole cell carrier DNA. The majority (8/10) of carrier-free transformant lines expressed the TK+ phenotype stably, in sharp contrast to our results with carrier-containing DNA-mediated gene transfer. There was a wide range in donor DNA content among independent transformants. Further analysis on one transformant line using DNA restriction digests and in situ hybridization provided evidence that, in the absence of whole cell carrier DNA, multiple donor DNA sequences became integrated at a single chromosomal site.

Stimulation of in vitro translation of messenger RNA by actinomycin D and cordycepin.

Actinomycin D and cordycepin were tested for their effect on translation in the wheat germ embryo extract and reticulocyte lysate assays for in vitro protein synthesis. Both drugs were found to stimulate the incorporation of 35S-labeled methionine into protein up to threefold as compared to control assays. This was true for synthesis directed by murine myeloma polyadenylate-containing RNA, tobacco mosaic virus RNA, and endogenous reticulocyte messenger RNA.

Biochemical and cytological evidence for triple hybrid cell line formed from fusion of three different cells.

Hybrids between two parental lines of somatic cells have been observed in various genomic multiplicities by ourselves and others. Possible explanations for the higher multiplicities include the fusion of cells in a 1:1 ratio with one genomic set undergoing an asynchronous replication either before or after fusion or the fusion of two or more cells. We now provide evidence for multiple genomic hybrids arising from the fusion of more than two cells in a mixture of three different cell lines. This proof is based on unique chromosomal and biochemical markers characteristic of the three parental cell lines. The distinctive phenotypes of all three lines are expressed in a clonally derived hybrid. Thus, we conclude that long-term, proliferating somatic cell hybrids can arise from the fusion of three or more cells.

Malate dehydrogenase: evidence for tetrameric structure in Mus musculus.

Two electrophoretically distinct variants of supernatant nicotinamideadenine dinucleotide phosphate-dependent malate dehydrogenase exist in mice (Mus musculus). They are controlled by codominant alleles segregating at an autosomal locus. The two forms exist in a polymorphic condition in wild populations of Mus musculus and are fixed in a homozygous condition in inbred lines. These genetic electrophoretic variants are used here to study the subunit structure of this enzyme. Evidence indicating a tetrameric structure for mouse nicotinamideadenine dinucleotide phosphate-dependent malate dehydrogenase is presented. This interpretation is based on the occurrence in heterozygote tissue extracts of five electrophoretically distinct enzymes. This is the predicted phenotype for tetramers composed of two types of subunits which associate randomly in heterozygotes forming three hybrid enzymes having mobilities intermediate between the parental forms.

Mammalian gonadal determination and gametogenesis.

Although a relationship between the X and Y chromosomes and mammalian sexual development has long been recognized, a detailed understanding of this relation is still lacking. Recent advances in somatic cell genetics and recombinant DNA technology should provide the tools for solving this fundamental problem in developmental genetics.

The status of the gene map of the human chromosomes.

In man, the specific chromosome that carries each of about 210 gene loci is known. These loci include at least one assigned to each chromosome (including the Y), about 110 assigned to specific autosomes, and about 100 to the X chromosome. For many loci, information on regional chromosomal localization is also available. The information comes mainly from studies in families and somatic cell hybrids, as well as an intgratsight of results from the two methods. Knowledge of the chromosome map gives insight into evolution, chromosomal organization in relation to genetic control mechanisms, and the pathogenesis of neoplasms and malformations. Furthermore, it is useful in prenatal or premorbid diagnosis of hereditary diseases.