Human gene expression in rodent cells after uptake of isolated metaphase chromosomes.

Permanent transfer of genetic information from chromosomes isolated from human diploid cells to recipient cells has been demonstrated. Human metaphase chromosomes were incubated with mouse A9 fibroblasts deficient in hypoxanthine phosphoribosyltransferase (IMP:pyrophosphate phosphoribosyltransferase, EC 2.4.2.8) and adenine phosphoribosyltransferase (AMP:pyrophosphate phosphoribosyltransferase, EC 2.4.2.7). Colonies of cells containing hypoxanthine phosphoribosyltransferase appeared during growth in a selective medium. The hypoxanthine phosphoribosyltransferase gene product in four independent colonies was identified as human donor species by both gel electrophoresis and isoelectric focusing; hence these colonies did not result from reversion of ta9 parental cells. Other X-linked human genes, glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (D-glucose-6-phosphate:NAD(+) 1-oxidoreductase, EC 1.1.1.49) and phosphoglycerate kinase (ATP:3-phospho-D-glycerate 1-phosphotransferase, EC 2.7.2.3), were not expressed in these same colonies. Dissociation of expression of these X-linked genes probably results from chromosomal fragmentation during uptake, but other mechanisms have not been excluded.