CYTOLOGICAL, CYTOGENETIC AND BIOCHEMICAL STUDIES ON SEVERAL PERMANENT INSECT CELL LINES
Abstract
Cytological, cytogenetic and biochemical studies were performed in the following insect cell lines: Trichoplusia ni, TM-368; Drosophila melanogaster, Schneider's 1; Aedes aegypti, ATC-10; Aedes aegypti, Mos. 20A; Aedes albopictus, ATC-15; Aedes albopictus, B(,1)C(,4); Aedes albopictus, C(,6)/36; Aedes pseudoscutellaris, Mos. 61; Anopheles gambiae, Mos. 55; Anopheles stephensi, Mos. 43; Culex quinquefasciatus. All insect cell lines exhibited most of the characteristics associated with transformed or neoplastic cells. Distinct "spontaneous" SCE frequencies reflecting phylogenetic relationships were observed among three mosquito species from two genera. The clastogens BrdU, EMS, MMS, ENU, and MNU were found to induce SCEs and the differences in the number of exchanges between insect and mammalian cells after compensating for genome sizes, reflect either their differential susceptibility to the damage initially inflicted to the DNA or to their capacities to perform DNA repair. By comparing the rate of SCE increase in the insect and mammalian cells, it was concluded that dissimilarities in number of SCEs between these two groups of organisms is more likely due to differences in their repair mechanism(s) in the case of BrdU and to the degree of initial DNA damage in the case of the alkylating agents. An in vitro assay system designed to test potential mutagens/carcinogens in fresh water is proposed using mosquito cell lines of larval origin. The advantages of such a system are discussed. Electrophoretic characterization of eleven insect cell lines was performed utilizing 24 enzyme systems. Positive identification of all cultures was possible. A positive correlation was found between number of isozymes, enzyme activity and metabolic importance of the enzyme system. The electrophoretic data revealed that Anopheles gambiae (Mos. 55) and the Culex quinquefasciatus cell lines are in fact the same cell line. Similarly, the Aedes pseudoscutellaris (Mos. 61) cell line was found to be Aedes albopictus (C(,6)/36). Biochemical differences were noticed between cells growing in an insect medium and cultures maintained in a mammalian medium. The superiority of slab polyacrylamide electrophoresis over starch gel, agar gel and cellulose acetate electrophoresis in visualizing insect isozymes is discussed.
Subject Area
Genetics
Recommended Citation
HERRERA, RENE J, "CYTOLOGICAL, CYTOGENETIC AND BIOCHEMICAL STUDIES ON SEVERAL PERMANENT INSECT CELL LINES" (1982). ETD Collection for Fordham University. AAI8219247.
https://research.library.fordham.edu/dissertations/AAI8219247
