Immunological and genetic characterization of 2-deoxygalactose-resistant, galactokinase-deficient mutants of Chinese hamster cells: evidence for structural mutations at the galK locus.

Ten independent mutants resistant to 2-deoxygalactose and without any detectable galactokinase activity (null-galactokinase mutations) were isolated from mutagenized Chinese hamster somatic cells. They were analyzed for the presence of serologically cross-reacting material (CRM) with antiserum generated against highly purified Chinese hamster galactokinase. All 10 mutants contain cross-reacting material (i.e., were CRM+), indicating that all the mutations affect the correct expression of a product of the galactokinase structural gene. Complementation analysis among them shows that the 10 mutations fall in one functional genetic unit.