Journal of Cell Science, Vol 13, 841-861, Copyright © 1973 by Company of Biologists

Submitted on March 29, 1973

Correction of Genetic Defects in Mammalian Cells by the Input of Small Amounts of Foreign Genetic Material

¹ Sir William Dunn School of Pathology South Parks Road, Oxford OX1 3RE, England

Chinese hamster cells lacking inosinic acid pyrophosphorylase and mouse cells lacking thymidine kinase were fused with chick erythrocytes. The resultant heterokaryons were cultivated in a selective medium in which possession of these enzymes was essential for cell survival and growth. Clones of cells able to grow in this medium were isolated and studied. A detailed karyological analysis of these clones failed to reveal any chick chromosomes; nor could any chick-specific antigens be detected on the surface of the cells. Nonetheless, clones arising from the fusion of chick erythrocytes with Chinese hamster cells were shown to possess an inosinic acid pyrophosphorylase which had the electrophoretic characteristics of chick inosinic acid pyrophosphorylase. However, the clones arising from the fusion of the chick erythrocytes with the mouse cells had a thymidine kinase with the electrophoretic mobility and heat sensitivity of murine, not chick, thymidine kinase. Both types of hybrid cell have now been cultivated in vitro for 18 months without the loss of thymidine kinase or inosinic acid pyrophosphorylase activity.