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Feulgen-DNA content evaluation and image analysis of NIH/3T3 cells transformed by MCF-7 cell DNA

Maria Luiza S. Mello^I; J. Russo^II

^IDepartamento de Biologia Celular, Hnstituto de Biologia, UNHCAMP, 13081 Campinas, SP, Brasil. Send correspondence to M.L.S.M.
^IIMichigan Cancer Foundation, Detroit, MH 48201, USA

ABSTRACT

Feulgen-DNA amounts, nuclear sizes and phenotypes were microspectrophotometrically studied in NHH/3T3 cells transformed by transfection with MCF-7 cell N-ras oncogene-containing genomic DNA, and compared with those provided by a T24 c-H-ras DNA-mediated cell transformation. A situation characterized by increased levels of chromatin condensation affecting euchromatin was found, its general aspects resembling those generated by the T24 c-H-ras DNA-mediated transformation. The induced chromatin condensation is supposed to be associated with repression of genes rendered unavailable for transcription and/or a topological effect on nucleo protein geometry promoted by neighboring or distant actions along the DNA. A condensation surpassing that demonstrated in the cells transformed by transfection with the T24 c-H-ras oncogene was detected in part of the cells transformed by transfection with the MCF-7 cell DNA. This is assumed to be due to a different clonal response of the NHH/3T3 cells to the transfected ras DNA or a consequence of transfection having been performed with the MCF7 cell whole genomic DNA.

Keywords: Feulgen-DNA; NIH/3t3 cells; MCF-7 cell DNA.

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