Transformation of normal diploid cells by isolated metaphase chromosomes of virus-transformed or spontaneous tumor cells.

Normal diploid human cells with a limited life-span in culture, as well as primary or secondary cell cultures of mouse or rat embryos, can be transformed in vitro (i.e. grow in soft-agar or low-serum medium) after a single exposure to metaphase chromosomes from SV40-transformed human or rat cells, Ad5-transformed human cells and several spontaneous human or mouse tumor cells. Chromosomes from normal diploid cells do not show any such transforming activity. As judged from the number of colonies formed in selective medium, the efficiency of transformation is, with some exceptions, of the order of 10(-5)--10(-6) and is generally higher for homologous than for heterologous transfers. A fraction of the colonies demonstrate abortive transformation. Nevertheless, using chromosomes from all but one donor cell population, at least one transferent cell line expressing a stable transformed phenotype has been established. Our results demonstrate that transformation of normal diploid cells by a presumptive chromosome-mediated gene transfer can be obtained with a variety of donor and recipient cells.