Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Characterization of the diphtheria toxin-resistance system in Chinese hamster ovary cells

  • Published:
Somatic Cell Genetics

Abstract

Variations in two general classes of diphtheria toxin-resistant mutants which may be selected from Chinese hamster ovary (CH0-K1) cells and the conditions for their selection are described. The resistance of class I mutants can be overcome with increasing concentrations of toxin. Their entire complement of EF-2 is susceptible to ADP-ribosylation by toxin. Class I includes those strains in which resistance resides at the level of the plasma membrane. The resistance of class II, translational, mutants cannot be overcome by high concentrations of toxin, as all, or a portion, of their EF-2 is insensitive to the action of diphtheria toxin and Pseudomonas exotoxin A. Adjustment of the concentration of toxin used to select resistant mutants can be used to regulate the class of mutant recovered. Metabolic cooperation between cells does not affect recovery of either class I or class II mutants. Resistance is stable in class I strains, but class IIb strains, which possess 50 % resistant and 50 % sensitive EF-2, display a transient high level of resistance which is retained for varying lengths of time following exposure to toxin. Class IIa strains, which possess 100% resistant EF-2, grow normally in saturating concentrations of toxin, but class IIb strains grow at a reduced rate. Evidence is presented which suggests that the gene for EF-2 is functionally diploid in CH0-K1 cells.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

Literature cited

  1. Moehring, J.M., and Moehring, T.J. (1976).Infect. Immun. 13:221–228.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  2. Moehring, T.J., and Moehring, J.M. (1977).Cell 11:447–454.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  3. Gupta, R.S., and Siminovitch, L. (1978).Somat. Cell Genet. 4:553–571.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  4. Gupta, R.S., and Siminovitch, L. (1978).Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 75:3337–3340.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  5. Pappenheimer, A.M., Jr., and Gill, D.M. (1973).Science 182:353–358.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  6. Collier, R.J. (1975).Bacterial. Rev. 39:54–85.

    Google Scholar 

  7. Iglewski, B.H., and Kabat, D. (1975).Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 72:2284–2288.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  8. Baker, R.M., Brunette, D.M., Mankovitz, R., Thompson, L.H., Whitmore, G.F., Siminovitch, L., and Till, J.E. (1974).Cell 1:9–21.

    Google Scholar 

  9. Gill, D.M., and Dinius, L.L. (1973).J. Biol. Chem. 248:654–658.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  10. Iglewski, B.H., Liu, P.V., and Kabat, D. (1977).Infect. Immun. 15:138–144.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  11. Chung, D.W., and Collier, R.J. (1977).Infect. Immun. 16:832–841.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  12. Pappenheimer, A.M., Jr. (1977).Annu. Rev. Biochem. 46:69–94.

    Google Scholar 

  13. Moehring, T.J., Danley, D.E., and Moehring, J.M. (1979).Somat. Cell Genet. 5:469–480.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  14. Crerar, M.M., and Pearson, M.L. (1977).J. Mol. Biol. 112:331–342.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Medical Microbiology, University of Vermont College of Medicine, 05405, Burlington, Vermont

    J. M. Moehring & T. J. Moehring

Authors
  1. J. M. Moehring
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. T. J. Moehring
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Moehring, J.M., Moehring, T.J. Characterization of the diphtheria toxin-resistance system in Chinese hamster ovary cells. Somat Cell Mol Genet 5, 453–468 (1979). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01538880

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01538880

Keywords

Search

Navigation