SYNCHRONIZATION OF AEDES-ALBOPICTUS MOSQUITO CELLS USING HYDROXYUREA

We have established conditions for use of hydroxyurea, a reversible in hibitor of DNA synthesis, to synchronize the division cycle of a conti nuous cell line from the mosquito, Aedes albopictus. In the range of 0 .15-0.25 mM hydroxyurea, an 18 h treatment, followed by removal of the drug, results in effective synchronization. When combined with the pa rtial synchronization that occurs within 10 h of dilution and plating, more than 80% of cells treated with hydroxyurea could be recovered in the synthesis (S) phase of the cell cycle during the 4 h period after removal of the drug. The degree of synchrony was enhanced when cells were exposed to two consecutive hydroxyurea treatments spaced 10 h apa rt. Synchronized cells expressed maximal levels of a reporter gene whe n transfected immediately after removal of hydroxyurea. This is the fi rst description of effective chemical synchronization of an insect cel l line using hydroxyurea.