Transformation of Bowes melanoma cells with SV40 T antigen.
A serum-dependent and two serum-independent variants of the Bowes melanoma cell line, RPMI7272, were transfected with plasmids containing a geneticin-resistance (neo) gene transcribed by the HSV thymidine kinase promoter and an SV40 T antigen gene under control of the mouse metallothionein I promoter. T-antigen increased the cloning efficiency of the serum-dependent cell line in soft-agar more than 50-fold, but cloning efficiency of serum-independent lines was not increased. Trypsinization of serum-independent lines required 100 times lower concentrations of trypsin than serum-dependent cells. Human metal-inducible T-antigen-producing (HMT) melanoma cells supported replication of transfected plasmids containing an SV40 origin of replication. Transient expression of interferon or plasminogen activator from such plasmids was 40-fold higher than in untransformed melanoma cells and could be enhanced 30-fold more by stimulation of transcription of the T antigen gene with cadmium chloride. HMT cells can be grown in suspension and thus may represent an attractive alternative to monkey kidney COS cells.
CIBA-GEIGY Ltd, Biotechnology Department, Basle, Switzerland.
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Asselbergs
D000818:Animals; D000952:Antigens, Polyomavirus Transforming / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D002455:Cell Division; D002471:Cell Transformation, Neoplastic; D002472:Cell Transformation, Viral; D008546:Melanoma, Experimental / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology*; D051379:Mice; D013539:Simian virus 40 / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D014162:Transfection; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured
D000952:Antigens, Polyomavirus Transforming