Establishment of mouse cell lines homozygous for temperature-sensitive mutation in catalase gene.

Contact-inhibited and-transformed fibroblast cell lines have been established from the homozygous C3H/CSb mutant mouse. These cell lines have low levels of a temperature-sensitive catalase enzyme activity. When compared to wild-type C3H cells, the catalase-deficient cells are markedly more sensitive to the toxicity of hydrogen peroxide. Furthermore, this cellular sensitivity to external hydrogen peroxide is temperature sensitive. These cell lines will be of use in the study of the role which catalase plays in the intracellular prevention of transformation induced by oxidative stress.