Complementation between mutants of CHO cells resistant to a variety of plant lectins

Chinese hamster cell mutants resistant to the lectins PHA, WGA, RIC, LCA, and CON A were previously grouped into 8–10 distinct phenotypes on the basis of their unique patterns of lectin resistance and lectin-binding properties. All but one of these classes of lectin-resistant (Lec^R) mutants behave recessively in somatic cell hybrids. One ricin-resistant class ( \(\left( {Ric^{R_{II} } } \right)\) behaves dominantly. Test for complementation, by measuring the lectin-resistant properties of appropriate hybrids, show that seven distinct complementation groups can be delineated among the phenotypically recessive mutants.