NUCLEOCYTOPLASMIC INTERACTIONS IN EXPERIMENTAL BINUCLEATES FORMED FROM NORMAL AND TRANSFORMED COMPONENTS

Methods for nuclear transfer and fusion of individual viable nuclei into cells is described. Experimental binucleates were formed by fusing nuclei from normal [human] fibroblasts, SV40 virus-transformed fibroblasts, and HeLa [human cervical] carcinoma cells into individual diploid fibroblasts which have undergone their total life span (population doublings) and have been maintained in culture for 10-12 wk (late phase III) prior to the nuclear transfer. Many of the cells receiving additional nuclei replicate and form clones of cells with a limited life span, and the morphology of the cells remains fibroblast-like.