Quantitative determination of transformed cells in a mixed population by stimultaneous fluorescence analysis of cell surface and DNA an individual cells.

Abstract

Cell-surface labeling with fluorescamine indicates that the fluorescence of Balb 3T3 A31 [mouse fibroblast] cells is considerably decreased after viral and chemical transformation. This phenomenon, coupled with the technique of flow microfluorometry, enabled nontransformed and transformed cells to be distinguished. A 2nd fluorescent probe, propidium iodide, which intercalates into DNA, was used in combination with fluorescamine to obtain a ratio of cell surface labeling to DNA content. This manipulation allowed enhanced resolution of the 2 populations and the detection of small numbers of transformants in a predominantly normal population.