Enzyme activity profiles in mouse teratocarcinomas. A quantitative ultramicroscale analysis.

Nine tumour lines with different developmental capacities were derived from spontaneous as well as from one induced teratocarcinoma: three teratocarcinoma-derived rhabdomyosarcomas TDR 602, TDR 694, and TDR 114; two teratocarcinoma-derived neuroblastomas TDN 2151 and TDN 2283; two teratocarcinoma-derived endodermal tumours TDE 274 and TDE 113; one multipotential teratocarcinoma OTT 2289, and one undifferentiated teratocarcinoma OTT 2158. Quantitative analyses of ten catabolic enzymes, i.e. alkaline and acid phosphatase, alpha- and beta-galactosidase, alpha- and beta-glucosidase, alpha-mannosidase, alpha-fucosidase, beta-glucuronidase, and hexosaminidase were carried out at the 20-cell level, and specific enzyme activity profiles were established for each of the tumour lines studied. These profiles may be used for the biochemical identification of a tumour type at the single cell level in addition to morphological and biological criteria.