The sensitivities of SV40-transformed human fibroblasts to monofunctional and DNA-crosslinking alkylating agents.

4 repair-deficient (Mer−) and 2 repair-proficient (Mer+) lines of SV40-transformed human fibroblasts were assayed for colony-forming ability after treatment with MNNG, methyl methanesulfonate (MMS), 1,3-bis-(2-chloroethyl)-1-nitrosourea (BCNU), and 1-(2-chloroethyl)-3-(2-hydroxyethyl)-1-nitrosourea (HECNU). The sensitivities to MMS, BCNU and HECNU of these SV40-transformed lines were similar to those of comparably treated human tumor cells observed previously. However, unlike human tumor lines, whose post-MNNG survival is strongly dependent upon Mer phenotype. SV40-transformed lines showed a lack of dependence of post-MNNG colony-forming ability on Mer phenotype. No differences in glutathione levels that might explain these differences were detected. The amounts of SV40-specific DNA and RNA among the lines were found to vary widely, but no correlation with Mer phenotype was found.