Cytogenetic changes in primary, immortalized and malignant mammalian cells.
Some chromosomes in transformed rat cells and somatic cell hybrids fail to display the presence of kinetochore proteins as detected by antikinetochore antibodies. Such chromosomes (K- chromosomes) may constitute a novel mechanism for the genesis of aneuploidy. We have analyzed primary, immortalized and malignant mammalian cells for the presence of kinetochore proteins and micronuclei. Our results suggest a correlation of the K- chromosome and micronucleus frequency with the variability in chromosome number. Upon in situ hybridization with the minor satellite and alpha satellite sequences some K- chromosomes showed a signal. This indicates that the observed lack of kinetochores is not necessarily due to a lack of centromeric DNA. We conclude that dislocated K- chromosomes may become incorporated into micronuclei which are prone to loss. Such events would be associated with the generation of aneuploidy.
Kirchner
S
S
Institut für Toxikologie, Universität Würzburg, Germany.
Stopper
H
H
Papp
T
T
Eckert
I
I
Yoo
H J
HJ
Vig
B K
BK
Schiffmann
D
D
D016475:3T3 Cells; D000818:Animals; D002460:Cell Line; D002461:Cell Line, Transformed; D002503:Centromere / Q000502:physiology*; D002869:Chromosome Aberrations; D006224:Cricetinae; D006367:HeLa Cells; D006801:Humans; D017404:In Situ Hybridization, Fluorescence; D007739:L Cells; D008647:Mesocricetus; D008677:Metaphase / Q000235:genetics; D051379:Mice; D048629:Micronuclei, Chromosome-Defective; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured