Isolation of a Wheat Cell Line with Altered Membrane Properties

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Abstract
A spontaneous dimethylsulfoxide(DMSO)-tolerant cell line was isolated from a cell culture of wheat (T. monococcum L.). The tolerant cells grew in the presence of 4% DMSO. Cells formed from protoplasts of the tolerant line required DMSO for division in culture medium of high osmotic value. Fatty acid composition and the molar ratio of phospholipids/sterols suggest a more ordered membrane structure in the tolerant line. A lower K+ influx rate was detected in the tolerant cells in comparison with the original line [TM-1066]. These characteristics were maintained after cultivation for 6 mo. in DMSO-free growth medium. Evidently genetic changes could be responsible for differences between the 2 cell lines.