INDUCTION OF POLYPLOIDY IN ADENOVIRUS E1-TRANSFORMED CELLS BY THE MITOTIC INHIBITOR COLCEMID

Adenovirus-transformed cells were tested for their ability to synthesi ze DNA in the presence of cell cycle inhibitory drugs. We show that tr ansformed cells are completely resistant to the mitotic inhibitor colc emid, partly resistant to lovastatin, mimosine, aphidicolin and genist ein but not to hydroxyurea or thymidine. When treated with colcemid, A dE1-transformed cells continue to synthesize DNA but do not divide and , therefore, become highly polyploid. This effect is dependent on the presence of both E1A and E1B.