Selection of mouse X hamster hybrids using HAT medium and a polyene antibiotic.

In the present study we tested the feasibility of utilizing a structurally modified polyene antibiotic, amphotericin B methyl ester (AME), as a half-selection agent for isolating somatic cell hybrids. By using HAT medium supplemented with AME we have isolated interspecific mouse-hamster hybrids from mixed cultures of mouse (TK-C1 ID or HPRT-A9) and hamster (BHK/C 13) cells fused with Sendai virus, lysolecithin or polyethylene glycol. Hybrid cells proliferated and clones were isolated after 2 to 3 weeks growth in three changes of HAT-AME medium and subsequent growth in HAT medium alone. In contrast, genetically deficient parental C1 1D or A9 cells and AME-sensitive BHK/C 13 cells were killed using a similar growth protocol. The described technique is simple, efficient and permits one to use a cell line without a genetic defect in combination with a genetically deficient cell type in hybrid formation.