Metastatic properties of distinct phenotypic classes of lectin-resistant mutants isolated from murine MDAY-D2 cell line

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Abstract
Single-step mutants were isolated from the murine metastatic MDAY-D2 cell line after selection in toxic concentrations of wheat-germ agglutinin. They were partially characterized by measuring their relative level of resistance to WGA, PHA, Con A, RIC, and LCA (Lec phenotype), and by comparing their karyotype and their ability to produce metastases upon transplantation into syngeneic DBA/2 mice. Based on their Lec phenotype, a total of 19 independent isolates were ranked into 10 distinct classes. Among them, two EMS-induced mutants were nontumorigenic (Lec II, Lec III), one nonmetastatic (Lec IV), and one spontaneous mutant (Lec I) failed to produce blood-borne metastases. Other spontaneous mutants belonging to Lec I, Lec II, and other classes were as metastatic as their parents. The Lec IV phenotype was found to segregate independently from metastatic potential in somatic hybrids. Metastatic ability was recovered in mutants expressing the Lec IV phenotype, after further selection for resistance to RIC. Our results strongly suggest that the loss or reduction of the invasive property of tumor cells is associated with only few Lecr phenotypes and, therefore, that a restricted number of cell surface glyconjugates are essential for this particular function.