Lysolecithin-induced fusion of fibroblasts

Summary

Lysolecithin has been used to induce cell fusion between two metabolically deficient mouse fibroblast lines, A₉ and B₈₂. Attempted fusion in suspension led to excessive cell clumping and complete loss of viability. Addition of lysolecithin solutions to confluent monolyers caused extensive detachment of cells from glass or plastic surfaces. At higher levels of lysolecithin few cells survived. When the conditions were controlled (50 to 250 μg per ml for up to 20 min), extensive polykaryocyte formation was observed. In the presence of selective medium (HAT) colonies of hybrid cells grew and a series of cell strains were isolated. The presence of inosinic acid pyrophosphorylase (absent in A₉ cells) was demonstrated in the hybrid cells which were shown to have almost double the cell volume of the parent A₉ and B₈₂ cells. Unlike the parent cell lines, the hybrid cells grew well in the presence of HAT both as monolayers and in suspension.