We report that, in a human cell line, human cytochrome P450IIA3 is capable of metabolizing aflatoxin B1, benzo[a]-pyrene, N-nitrosodimethylamine (NDMA) and N-nitrosodiethylamine (NDEA) to cytotoxic and mutagenic species. Cytochrome P450IIA3-mediated activation of NDMA and NDEA was compared with human cytochrome P450IIE1-mediated activation in the same cell system. P450IIE1 was more effective at activating NDMA than P450IIA3, while P450IIA3 was more effective at activating NDEA than P450IIE1. Whole cells and microsomal fractions obtained from control cells and from cells expressing the P450IIA3 cDNA were characterized for expression of P450IIA3. Microsomal coumarin 7-hydroxylase activity was some 40 times greater in the transfected cells than in the control cells and was catalyzed by a protein that was immunochemically related to the rat liver cytochrome P450IIA gene family. Immunoblot analysis demonstrated that this protein was readily detectable in transfected cells but barely detectable in control cells. We also report the DNA and deduced amino acid sequence of the P450IIA3 cDNA isolate used in this study. Our isolate encodes a protein 489 amino acids that is five amino acids shorter at the N terminus but otherwise identical to a previously reported human P450IIA3 cDNA sequence.

Purified murine epidermal growth factor (EGF) binds to mouse and human cells. Two mouse transformed cell lines of different origins, PG19 and B82, were found to lack EGF receptors (EGFR). The defect in each of these two cell lines seems to be identical because they fail to complement each other. Somatic cell hybrids between these EGFR-deficient mouse cells and human cells expressing EGFR were produced. Several of these hybrids bound labeled EGF. Detailed cytogenetic analysis of these cell hybrids, followed by correlation of EGFR expression with human chromosomes revealed that EGFR presence correlated with human chromosome 7. The results suggest that the structural gene or a gene necessary for expression of the human EGF receptor is located on human chromosome 7.

We have isolated a human lymphoblastoid cell line with higher levels of native cytochrome P450IA1 activity and by DNA transfection introduced human cDNAs for a putative cytochrome P450IIA2 and epoxide hydrolase (E.C. 3.3.2.3). The resultant cell line, designated MCL-1, was substantially more sensitive to the mutagenicity of dimethylnitrosamine and benzo[a]pyrene than the AHH-1 cell line and was found to have increased metabolism of benzo[a]pyrene to dihydrodiols. The increase in native cytochrome P450IA1 activity was achieved by mutation and selection based on resistance to the phototoxicity of benzo[ghi]perylene. One resistant clone, designated L3, was used for subsequent studies. Two complete cDNAs, one encoding a putative cytochrome P450IIA2 and the other a microsomal epoxide hydrolase, were isolated from a human liver cDNA library. After introduction of the cDNAs into an expression vector and transfection into AHH-1 cells, gene expression was detected at the level of enzyme activity (epoxide hydrolase) or by increased sensitivity to dimethylnitrosamine cytotoxicity/mutagenicity (putative P450IIA2). A vector containing both cDNAs was then constructed and transfected into L3 cells to produce MCL-1 cells. The potential usefulness of drug-metabolizing gene transfection and of the MCL-1 cell line, in particular, for genetic toxicity testing is discussed.

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We have demonstrated that the human cytochrome P1-450 gene can be transfected into the AHH-1 human lymphoblastoid cell line using the pHEBo vector and hygromycin selection. The transfected gene was expressed when regulatory sequences derived from the herpes simplex virus thymidine kinase gene were incorporated in appropriate orientations. Gene expression was monitored at the enzyme level using assays for 7-ethoxyresorufin deethylase, 7-ethoxycoumarin deethylase and benzo[a]pyrene hydroxylase activities. Bulk transformed cell populations had 2- to 3-fold more of these enzyme activities compared with control populations. Subclones of the bulk population expressing still higher levels of 7-ethoxyresorufin deethylase activity were also obtained. Expression of the transfected cytochrome P1-450 gene was stable for 20-30 days in the presence of hygromycin B. The transformed cell populations were found to be suitable for use in gene locus mutation assays and the mutagenicity of aflatoxin-B1 and 2-acetylaminofluorene (AAF) were examined. Aflatoxin-B1 was found to be 2-3 times more mutagenic to cells bearing the transfected cytochrome P1-450 activity as compared with control cells. In contrast, no difference in AAF mutagenicity was observed. Analysis of the AAF metabolite profile indicated that cells expressing the transfected cytochrome P1-450 gene produced 8-fold more N- and 7-hydroxy-AAF than control cells. The similarity in mutagenic responses between control cells and cells bearing the transfected cytochrome P1-450 gene may be due to the low deacetylase activity of AHH-1 cells. These observations indicate that this vector and expression system are suitable for introducing novel metabolic activities into the AHH-1 cell line.

We describe an ongoing collaborative curriculum materials development project between Sweet Briar College and Western Michigan University, with support from the National Science Foundation. We present a collection of modules under development that can be used in existing mathematics and biology courses, and we address a critical national need to introduce students to mathematical methods beyond the interface of biology with calculus. Based on ongoing research, and designed to use the project-based-learning approach, the modules highlight applications of modern discrete mathematics and algebraic statistics to pressing problems in molecular biology. For the majority of projects, calculus is not a required prerequisite and, due to the modest amount of mathematical background needed for some of the modules, the materials can be used for an early introduction to mathematical modeling. At the same time, most modules are connected with topics in linear and abstract algebra, algebraic geometry, and probability, and they can be used as meaningful applied introductions into the relevant advanced-level mathematics courses. Open-source software is used to facilitate the relevant computations. As a detailed example, we outline a module that focuses on Boolean models of the lac operon network.

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A diffusible factor produced and secreted by malignant murine cells was capable of inducing plasminogen activator production by normal diploid human fibroblasts. The factor's ability to induce plasminogen activator was insensitive to treatment with nucleases, but its activity was destroyed by digestion with proteases. It is proposed that such a factor would play a role in malignancy if it would recruit normal cells that were adjacent to transformed cells to produce plasminogen activator which could result in tumor-promoted proteolysis.