title: Methods for detecting somatic mutations in vitro: the human T-cell cloning assay selecting for HPRT mutants.
abstract: The T-cell cloning assay, which detects mutations in the gene for hypoxanthine-guanine phosphoribosyltransferase (HPRT), is the most well-developed reporter system for studying specific locus mutation in human somatic cells. The assay is based on a mitogen- and growth factor-dependent clonal expansion of peripheral T lymphocytes in which the 6-thioguanine-resistant HPRT mutants can be selected, enumerated, and collected for molecular analysis of their mutational nature. The assay provides a unique tool for studying in vivo and in vitro mutagenesis and for investigating the functional impact of common polymorphisms in metabolism and repair genes. The present chapter presents a simple and reliable method for the enumeration of HPRT mutant frequency induced in vitro without using any source of recombinant interleukin-2. The other main feature is that only truly induced and unique mutants are collected for further analysis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biosciences, Karolinska Institute, Huddinge, Sweden.
authors.forename: Sai-Mei
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Hou
mesh_terms: D002999:Clone Cells; D004247:DNA / Q000187:drug effects; D004252:DNA Mutational Analysis; D006801:Humans; D007041:Hypoxanthine Phosphoribosyltransferase / Q000235:genetics*; D016296:Mutagenesis / Q000235:genetics; D009152:Mutagenicity Tests / Q000379:methods; D009153:Mutagens / Q000633:toxicity; D009154:Mutation / Q000235:genetics; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000737:chemistry / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D009153:Mutagens; D004247:DNA; D007041:Hypoxanthine Phosphoribosyltransferase