Abstract
Previous work in our laboratory led to the isolation of a cadmium (Cd)-resistant variant (Cdr2C10) of the line CHO Chinese Hamster cell having a 10-fold greater resistance to the cytotoxic action of Cd2+ compared with the CHO cell. This resistance was attributed to an increased capacity of the Cd2+-resistant Cdr2C10 subline to induce synthesis of the Cd2+- and Zn2+-binding protein(s), metallothionein(s) (MT). Evidence that Cd2+ behaves as an analog of the essential trace metal, Zn2+, especially as an inducer of MT synthesis, suggested that the Cdr and CHO cell types could be employed to investigate cellular Zn2+ metabolism. In the present study, measurements were made to compare CHO and Cdr cell types for (a) growth as a function of the level of ZnCl2 added to the culture medium, (b) uptake and subcellular distribution of Zn2+, and (c) capacity to induce MT synthesis. The results of these measurements indicated that (a) both CHO and Cdr cell types grew normally (T d≊16–18 h) during exposures to Zn2+ at levels up to 100 μM added to the growth medium, but displayed abrupt growth inhibition at higher Zn2+ levels, (b) Cdr cells incorporate fourfold more Zn2+ during a 24-h exposure to the maximal subtoxic level of Zn2+ and (c) the CHO cell lacks the capacity to induce MT synethesis while the Cdr cell is proficient in this response during exposure to the maximal subtoxic Zn2+ level. These findings suggest that (a) the CHO and Cdr cell systems will be useful in further studies of cellular Zn2+ metabolism, especially in comparisons of Zn2+ metabolism in the presence and absence of induction of the Zn2+-sequestering MT and (b) a relationship exists between cellular capacity to induce MT synthesis and capacity for cellular Zn2+ uptake.
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Hildebrand, C.E., Enger, M.D. & Tobey, R.A. Comparative studies of zinc metabolism in cultured chinese hamster cells with differing metallothionein-induction capacities. Biol Trace Elem Res 2, 235–246 (1980). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02783822
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02783822