DNA-mediated transfer of human melanoma cell surface glycoprotein gp130: identification of transfectants by erythrocyte rosetting.

DNA sequences encoding a human melanoma membrane-bound sialoglycoprotein of 130,000 molecular weight (gp130) were introduced into a clonal derivative of mouse B-16 melanoma cells with the selectable neomycin resistance gene (aminoglycoside phosphotransferase). Mouse transfectants were identified by a rapid and precise screening method with mouse monoclonal antibodies and erythrocyte rosetting. The frequency of gp130 transfectants was approximately 1 in 2,000 to 5,000 colonies with neo+ cells. Analysis of secondary mouse transfectants has revealed that the transfected gp130 has a molecular weight, isoelectric point, intracellular processing, peptide map, and spatial orientation of surface-exposed epitopes indistinguishable from those seen with gp130 from human melanoma cells. In contrast to primary transfectants, secondary transfectants expressing gp130 lack demonstrable human repetitive sequences.