Growth and transformation suppressor genes for BHK Syrian hamster cells on human chromosomes 1 and 11.

To map putative tumor suppressor genes for the near-diploid baby hamster kidney fibrosarcoma cell line BHK, we transferred five different normal human chromosomes (1, 3, 7, 11, and 12) into these tumor cells by microcell-mediated chromosome transfer. Transfer of human chromosome 1 into BHK cells resulted in suppression of cell growth both on plastic and in soft agar, indicating that chromosome 1 has a generalized effect on cell growth and thereby suppresses anchorage-independent growth. Selection against cells with an intact chromosome 1 was observed. In contrast, the introduction of chromosome 11 into BHK cells resulted in suppression of anchorage independence but not growth on plastic. Most chromosome-11 growth-suppressed BHK hybrids retained intact copies of human chromosome 11. Tumorigenic derivatives of chromosome 11 hybrids had lost this chromosome. Transfer of human chromosome 3, 7, or 12 into BHK cells did not correlate with growth suppression of BHK cells on plastic or in soft agar. Thus, we conclude that genes that suppress BHK-cell growth in general or in agar reside on human chromosomes 1 and 11, respectively.