Characterization of invertebrate cell lines

Abstract

The usefulness of isozyme patterns for distinguishing 14 lepidopteran and 2 dipteran cell lines was evaluated. The lepidopteran cell lines used in this study represent eight taxonomic families with one family, Noctuidae, having five representatives. Cell extracts were examined for 18 isozymes using a starch gel electrophoretic system. Ten isozymes proved to be suitable because their isozyme patterns permitted the allocation of the cell lines into distinct groups. Furthermore, four isozymes (isocitrate dehydrogenase, malic enzyme, phosphoglucoisomerase, and phosphoglucomutase) were found to be adequate to distinguish the cell lines. The isozyme patterns observed for the two dipteran and one of the lepidopteran cell lines were analogous to the profiles found using the intact insect. Isozyme analyses differentiated the cell lines and may prove useful for identifications of species of origin. The use of this technique as a criterion for identification of invertebrate cell lines is proposed.