Abstract
Cultured cell lines maintained in different laboratories often show different phenotypes despite originating from the same cell line. In this study, we compared Bombyx mori nucleopolyhedrovirus (BmNPV) infectivity in B. mori ovary-derived BmN4 cell lines that had been cultured for decades at three independent laboratories. These were designated BmT (maintained at University of Tokyo), BmY (maintained at Yamaguchi University) and BmQ (maintained at Kyushu University). Infection studies revealed that the BmY cells produced and released many more occlusion bodies than the other two cell lines. Luciferase assay showed that the activity of the polyhedrin promoter was higher in the BmY and BmQ cells than in BmT cells. Budded virus production was lower in the BmQ cells than in the other two lines, and the BmQ cells were not able to form distinct plaques of BmNPV. Quantitative RT-PCR experiments revealed that BmNPV early gene expression was higher and earlier in the BmT cells than in the BmY or BmQ cells. Collectively, BmN4 cell lines subcultured under different conditions for years exhibit different properties, including virus infectivity. We can exploit these differences and had better take advantage of each cell line depending on the intended use.
© 2012 by Japan Academic Association for Copyright Clearance (Except in the USA), Copyright Clearance Center, Inc. (In the USA)
