Biopolymers and cell. 2007; 23 (5): 410 - 415

Induction of gene mutations by lectins of different origin and cytokine EMAPII in somatic mammalian cells in vitro

O. O. Kovalenko, L. L. Lukash, S. I. Lukash

Exogenous carbohydrate binding proteins, namely, three lectins of different origin and cytokine EMAPII, have revealed the ability to induce mutations in hprt locus in Chinese hamster cells in vitro. In the investigations of their biological action at the wide range of doses (from 0.002 to 2000 µg/ml) direct dependence of mutagenic effect on the concentration of foreign protein in cellular system has been manifested. Mathematical modelling has shown that resulting curve consists of three processes: the first one proceeds with saturation, the second one – with linear dependence on the dose, and the third one is described by non-linear equation of the second degree. Mutagenic activity of lectins is realized according to the latter equation and characterized by gradual increasing of mutation frequency with the increase in the protein dose.

Keywords: mammalian cells, cytokine, lectin, resistance, mutations, hprt locus, apoptosis, mathematical modelling.