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Title: Phenotypic expression time of mutagen-induced 6-thioguanine resistance in Chinese hamster ovary cells (CHO/HGPRT system): expression in division-arrested cell cultures

Journal Article · · Environ. Mutagen.; (United States)

The phenotypic expression time of ethyl methanesulfonate (EMS) induced 6-thioguanine-resistant mutants was studied with Chinese hamster ovary cells in culture (CHO/HGPRT system). After mutagen treatment of exponential phase cultures, the cells were maintained either in the exponential phase through subculture in medium containing 5% dialyzed fetal bovine serum (FBS) or in a nondividing viable state by use of medium containing 0-1% dialyzed FBS. The time course of expression of the 6-thioguanine-resistant phenotype was similar with both exponential phase division-arrested cultures showing maximum expression by 9 days after mutagen event is fixed, the expression of the mutant phenotype does not require continued cell division since it occurs in division-arrested cultures. These results also suggest that both dilution of pre-existing hypoxanthine-guanine phosphoribosyl transferase (HGPRT) enzyme by cell division and turnover by protein degradation are involved in the phenotypic expression. These results separate genetic damage and phenotypic expression in a temporal sense, and point out the need to consider the mechanisms responsible for each process involved in the induction and expression of mutations.

Research Organization:
Oak Ridge National Lab., TN
DOE Contract Number:
W-7405-ENG-26
OSTI ID:
6137073
Journal Information:
Environ. Mutagen.; (United States), Vol. 4
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English