Abstract
To simplify the process of transfection of human fibroblasts and to acquire a suitable number of transformants, we investigated experimental conditions of electric pulse-induced transfection of human fibroblasts using origin-defective simian virus 40 DNA(SV40 (ori-) DNA). Voltage, pulse duration, number of pulses
and the concentration of SV40 (ori-) DNA led to the formation of 10 to 30 foci/25 cm2 6 weeks after transfection, using 2 to 3 x 106 cells and a square wave pulse generator. Optimal condition was determined to be 2 or 3 pulses at a voltage of 1500 to 2000 V/0.4 cm with 30 μsec pulse width, using 2 μg of linearized SV40(ori-) DNA. With this approach we developed human transformed fibroblasts cell lines with all types of mucopolysaccharidoses. The transformed fibroblasts grew rapidly and the saturation density exceeded that of the parental cells. All the transformed cell clones expressed T antigen, and deficiency in specific enzymes was conserved. A point
mutation which occurred in the human β-glucuronidase gene in a patient with mucopolysaccharidosis type VII was also conserved.
