A new insect cell line from the longicorn beetle Plagionotus christophi (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae).

We have established a continuous cell line from the fat body tissue of the longicorn beetle Plagionotus christophi. The cells have been serially subcultured in MGM450 medium, and the line has been designated as PC-1. The cells were grown in suspension and comprise largely flattened spindle- or oval-shaped cells morphologically related to blood cells of longicorn beetles. The chromosome number ranged from 19 to 36, with a mode of 20 (diploid). The growth curve was determined at the 100th passage, and the population doubling time was calculated to be 3.79 d. Isozyme analysis of malic enzyme, phosphoglucose isomerase, and phosphoglucomutase revealed that PC-1 cells were enzymatically distinct from coleopteran XP-1, AnCu-35, dipteran AeAl-2, and lepidopteran GaMe-LF1 cell lines.