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. 1982 Jun;2(6):625–632. doi: 10.1128/mcb.2.6.625

Heterogeneity in the Rate of Benzo[a]pyrene Metabolism in Single Cells: Quantitation Using Flow Cytometry

Arthur G Miller 1,†, James P Whitlock Jr 1
PMCID: PMC369838  PMID: 14582158

Abstract

We describe a method for quantitating heterogeneity in the rate of benzo[a]pyrene metabolism in single cells by using flow cytometry. We have used the technique to study the response of Hepa-1c1c7 mouse hepatoma cells to the microsomal enzyme inducer 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin. Cells responded in a relatively homogeneous fashion at different times of induction with a maximally inducing concentration of the inducer. However, the induction response could be heterogeneous at a submaximal inducer concentration. We found even higher heterogeneity of enzyme activity among low-activity variants derived from the Hepa-1c1c7 cell line. When cells of either high or low activity were isolated from such a clonal population, propagated, and reanalyzed, they displayed average enzyme activity and heterogeneity identical to the parental cells; therefore, the heterogeneity represents transient, nonheritable differences between cells within the population.

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Selected References

These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.

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