Cell Fusion and the Introduction of New Information into Temperature-Sensitive Mutants of Mammalian Cells

Abstract

Cell fusion occurs in nature spontaneously. Barski et al. (1) were the first ones to demonstrate spontaneous fusion between mammalian cells in culture. However, it is likely that many multi-nucleated giant cells found in normal and pathological conditions (for instance, in measles) may be the result of cell fusion. In cell biology, though, cell fusion has been used to introduce new information, of either phenotypic or genotypic nature into viable mammalian cells. Cell fusion should therefore be discussed together with newer methods for introducing information into mammalian cells which include: manual microinjection, transfection, liposomes, loaded erythrocyte ghosts and permeabilization of membranes. Because of space limitations, we shall omit the last three from the discussion, although liposomes and permeabilized membranes have still unexplored potentials, and we shall take into consideration only: 1) cell fusion; 2) manual microinjection; and 3) transfection.