Cell hybridization and cell agglutination. II. Enhancement of cell hybridization by polycations.

An efficient technique for hybridization of mammalian cells was developed by combining agglutination by pretreatment with polycations, such as polyarginine, and conventional polyethylene glycol(PEG)-mediated cell fusion. Polyarginine and subsequent PEG treatment resulted in markedly decreased viability in the treated cells, but addition of polyvinyl pyrrolidone or glycerol to the polyarginine prevented this cytotoxicity. Polyarginine was much more effective than polylysine or polyornithine in inducing hybridization. Other polycations, including polybrene and protamine but not DEAE-dextran, were also active in inducing hybridization. The condition of the cells at the time of polycation treatment was an important factor in the enhancement of hybridization. The condition of the cells at the time of polycation treatment was an important factor in the enhancement of hybridization. The enhancement of hybridization of cells in monolayer incubated for 2 h was much higher than that of cells incubated for 24 h. These findings suggest that polycations do not necessarily operate by agglutinating cells. The mechanism of polycation-enhanced cell hybridization is discussed.