Different Chinese hamster cell lines express a G1 period for different reasons

Abstract
Previous studies from our laboratory have shown that the absence of G1 (G1 condition) in two lines of Chinese hamster cells is dominant over the presence of G1 (G1+ condition) in a variety of intraspecific cell hybrids. G1+ mutants or variants can be isolated from G1 cells following mutagenesis and selection. These G1+ mutants fall into multiple complementation groups based on their abilities to form G1 cell hybrids with one another. This is evidence that different mutants have G1 intervals for different reasons, possibly as the result of deficiencies in functions necessary for G1 cell cycles. In this report we have used cell hybrid analysis to ask whether cells of different, naturally occurring G1+ lines of Chinese hamster are able to complement to produce G1 hybrids. We have found three complementation groups among the four G1+ cell lines examined. Therefore, these lines define three different reasons or bases for the existence of a G1 interval. These results lead us to suggest that multiple requirements must be met for these cells to start the S period, but that failure to fulfill only a single and different requirement is responsible for the presence of a G1 interval in any given cell line.