Showing papers on "Lysis published in 1977"

Properties of the Penicillin-Binding Proteins of Escherichia coli K12

Abstract: Benzyl[14C]penicillin binds to six proteins with molecular weights between 40000 and 91000 in the inner membrane of Escherichia coli. Two additional binding proteins with molecular weights of 29000 and 32000 were sometimes detected. All proteins were accessible to benzyl[14C]penicillin in whole cells. Proteins 5 and 6 released bound benzyl[14C]penicillin with half times of 5 and 19 min at 30 degrees C but the other binding proteins showed less than 50% release during a 60-min period at 30 degrees C. The rate of release of bound penicillin from some of the proteins was greatly stimulated by 2-mercaptoethanol and neutral hydroxylamine. Release of benzyl[14C]penicillin did not occur if the binding proteins were denatured in anionic detergent and so was probably enzymic. No additional binding proteins were detected with two [14C]cephalosporins. These beta-lactams bound to either all or some of those proteins to which benzyl[14C]penicillin bound. No binding proteins have been detected in the outer membrane of E coli with any beta-[14C]lactam. The binding of a range of unlabelled penicillins and cephalosporins were studied by measuring their competition for the binding of benzyl[14C]penicillin to the six penicillin-binding proteins. These results, together with those obtained by direct binding experiments with beta-[14C]lactams, showed that penicillins bind to all six proteins but that at least some cephalosporins fail to bind, or bind very slowly, to proteins 2, 5 and 6, although they bind to the other proteins. Since these cephalosporins inhibited cell division and caused cell lysis at concentrations where we could detect no binding to proteins 2, 5 and 6, we believe that these latter proteins are not the target at which beta-lactams bind to elicit the above physiological responses. The binding properties of proteins 1, 3, and 4 correlate reasonably well with those expected for the above killing targets.

Flow microfluorometric analysis of nuclear DNA in cells from solid tumors and cell suspensions. A new method for rapid isolation and straining of nuclei.

Abstract: A one-step procedure for the preparation of nuclei for flow microfluorometric DNA analysis is described. The membranes of the cells were lysed by the non-ionic detergent Nonidet P40. Single-cell suspensions, and specimens of solid tissues obtained with fine-needle biopsy, could be prepared equally well as the nuclei of solid tissue cells were released separately. Lysis was performed in the staining solution containing either ethidium bromide or propidium iodide. Fluorescence due to fluorochrome binding to RNA, was abolished instantaneously by the presence of RNA-se, and fluorochrome binding to secondary binding sites in DNA was inhibited with NaCl. The preparation time was 10 min and the samples were stable for a minimum of 12 h. With the basic version of the method, usable, but not always optimal, results were obtained in all the cell types tested: four different mouse ascites tumors, leucocytes, bone-marrow, liver cells, human lymphomas, human carcinomas of the breast and lung, mouse mammary carcinoma and solid JB-1 tumor. The method was further optimized for the JB-1 ascites tumour. The resulting two modified techniques are described. Differences in the staining of leucocytes with the analogues ethidium bromide and propidium iodide were demonstrated.

Antibody-dependent Killing of Erythrocyte and Tumor Targets by Macrophage-Related Cell Lines: Enhancement by PPD and LPS

Abstract: Five murine macrophage or monocyte-related tumor cell lines in culture were compared for antibody-dependent lysis (ADL) of a tumor target (T lymphoma EL4) and lysis and phagocytosis of sheep erythrocytes (RBC). Some lines were effective only with RBC targets, while others were capable of lysing these and tumor targets. Both murine alloantisera to H-2 and Thy 1.2 antigens on the target cells and rabbit anti-mouse spleen and anti-mouse thymus sera directed target lysis, while normal mouse or rabbit sera were inactive. Preincubation of macrophage line RAW264 with lipopolysaccharide (LPS) or purified protein derivative from Mycobacteria (PPD) for 2 days resulted in an average of 76% or 86% increase, respectively, in ADL of RBC, although there was no stimulation in RBC phagocytosis or in nonspecific or antibody-dependent lysis of tumor targets. These results indicate that macrophage cell types are capable of antibody-dependent tumor lysis, that macrophages are probably heterogeneous in effector cell activities, and that they can be stimulated to increased ADL in the complete absence of other cell types.

Rapid isolation of plasma membranes in high yield from cultured fibroblasts.

Abstract: 1. A method was developed which allows the rapid preparation of pure plasma membranes in high yield from cultured fibroblasts. 2. Cells are lysed in hypo-osmotic borate/EDTA and, after differential centrifugation, the membranes collected by centrifugation on a sucrose barrier. 3. Electron microscopy of the isolated material shows large membrane vesicles essentially free from contaminating organelles. 4. There is no detectable activity of the endoplasmic-reticulum enzyme marker, NADH2--lipoamide oxidoreductase (EC 1.6.4.3), and that of succinate dehydrogenase (EC 1.3.99.1), a marker for mitochondria, is substantially decreased. Chemical compositions are in good agreement with previous observations. 5. This study confirms the usefulness of applied isotopic markers for isolating plasma membranes.

The Intracellular Location of Abscisic Acid in Stressed and Non‐Stressed Leaf Tissue

Abstract: The intra-cellular location of ABA was investigated in relation to its sites of synthesis. Chloroplasts were isolated from stressed and non-stressed spinach leaves and their ABA content determined. Virtually all of the ABA from non-stressed leaves was contained in the chloroplasts compared with only a small fraction of ABA isolated from stressed leaves. Chloroplasts prepared from turgid leaves and subsequently lysed in vitro retained most of their ABA and phaseic acid (PA) complement but this was removed with organic solvents. While the possibility of extra-chloroplastic synthesis cannot be discounted the data indicate that stress-induced ABA synthesis occurs in the chloroplast and that the ABA readily migrates from there to other parts of the plant.

Tolerant Response of Streptococcus sanguis to Beta-Lactams and Other Cell Wall Inhibitors

Abstract: In contrast to group A streptococci or Streptococcus pneumoniae, cells of Streptococcus sanguis (group H) do not exhibit the irreversible effects of penicillin treatment, such as loss of viability or lysis. On the other hand, the same bacteria show typical effects of penicillin, such as morphological alterations, reduction in the rate of cell wall synthesis, and secretion of murein and lipoteichoic acid polymers into the medium. A novel effect of cell wall inhibitors was also noted: treatment with beta-lactams or with fosfomycin, d-cycloserine, or beta-halogeno-d-alanine caused the release of substantial amounts of glycerol lipids into the growth medium. The antibiotic “tolerance” of S. sanguis is interpreted in terms of the hypothesis that the activity of bacterial murein hydrolases is essential for the irreversible effects of cell wall inhibitors.

Binding of Thienamycin and Clavulanic Acid to the Penicillin-Binding Proteins of Escherichia coli K-12

Abstract: Thienamycin and clavulanic acid are new beta-lactam derivatives with structures markedly different from those of penicillins or cephalosporins. Both derivatives had the same general mode of action as typical beta-lactam antibiotics since they bound to precisely the same proteins as [(14)C]benzylpenicillin. Thienamycin showed high affinity for penicillin-binding proteins 1, 2, 4, 5, and 6 and a lower affinity for protein 3. Protein 2 had the highest affinity for thienamycin, and concentrations from the minimal morphological change concentration (0.1 mug/ml) up to about 0.6 mug/ml resulted in the conversion of Escherichia coli KN126 into large osmotically stable round cells. Above a concentration of 0.6 mug/ml, rapid cell lysis occurred with the release of the cell contents as spheroplasts. Clavulanic acid showed good affinity for penicillin-binding protein 2, moderate affinity for proteins 1, 4, 5, and 6, and low affinity for protein 3. Protein 2 had the highest affinity for clavulanic acid, and concentrations from the minimal morphological change concentration (30 mug/ml) up to about 50 mug/ml produced a mixture of slightly elongated, swollen, bulging, and lemon-shaped cells. Above a concentration of 50 mug/ml, rapid lysis occurred with production of spheroplasts. The properties of thienamycin and clavulanic acid were compared with those of the penicillins, cephalosporins, and amidinopenicillanic acids.

Isolation and characterization of plasma membrane-associated cortical granules from sea urchin eggs

Abstract: Cortical granules, which are specialized secretory organelles found in ova of many organisms, have been isolated from the eggs of the sea urchins Arbacia punctulata and Strongylocentrtus pupuratus by a simple, rapid procedure. Electron micropscope examination of cortical granules prepared by this procedure reveals that they are tightly attached to large segments of the plasma membrane and its associated vitelline layer. Further evidence that he cortical granules were associated with these cell surface layers was obtained by (125)I-labeling techniques. The cortical granule preparations were found to be rich in proteoesterase, which was purified 32-fold over that detected in a crude homogenate. Similarly, the specific radioactivity of a (125)I-labeled, surface glycoprotein was increased 40-fold. These facts, coupled with electron microscope observations, indicate the isolation procedure yields a preparation in which both the cortical granules and the plasma membrane-vitelline layer are purified to the same extent. Gel electrophoresis of the membrane-associated cortical granule preparation reveals the presence of at least eight polypeptides. The major polypeptide, which is a glycotprotein of apparent mol wt of 100,000, contains most of the radioactivity introduced by (125)I-labeling of the intact eggs. Lysis of the cortical granules is observed under hypotonic conditions, or under isotonic conditions if Ca(2+) ion is present. When lysis is under isotonic conditions is induced by addition of Ca(2+) ion, the electron-dense contents of the granules remain insoluble. In contrast, hypotonic lysis results in release of the contents of the granule in a soluble form. However, in both cases the (125)I-labeled glycoprotein remains insoluble, presumably because it is a component of either the plasma membrane or the vitelline layer. All these findings indicate that, using this purified preparation, it should be possible to carry out in vitro studies to better define some of the initial, surface-related events observed in vivo upon fertilization.

Use of ionophore A23187 to measure and to control free and bound cytoplasmic Mg in intact red cells.

Abstract: CYTOPLASMIC magnesium, whether free or complexed to nucleotides, has a fundamental physiological role as an essential cofactor for many cell enzymes, particularly those concerned with glycolysis, respiration and membrane transport. Various ingenious procedures have been applied to estimate1,2 or simulate3,4 intracellular conditions in relation to Mg but, because it is impossible to assess and control Mg2+ in the intact cell, most research on Mg requirements for metabolism and transport has used lysed cells5 and broken membrane preparations6,7, which have inherent uncertainties about true concentrations and sidedness of effects. Using a divalent cation ionophore8 and a newly developed method9,10 we have investigated Mg buffering in intact human red blood cells and have found that the fresh, oxygenated, inosine-fed cell (a condition frequently used for ion transport studies11–14) has three main buffer systems which bind nearly 90% of the total Mg present inside the cell in physiological conditions.

Lysis and viability of cultured mammalian cells exposed to 1 MHz ultrasound

Abstract: HeLa and CHO cells were exposed for 1 to 15 min to 1 MHz ultrasound at intensities up to 30 W/cm 2 . The threshold for cell lysis was approximately 1 W/cm 2 with the maximum effect at 10 W/cm 2 . Among the intact cells there was a decreased viability as determined both by trypan blue exclusion and by colony-forming ability; the intensity vs. response curve was similar to that fur cell lysis. Preliminary evidence also suggests that a decrease in proliferation rate and an increased incidence of giant cells occur for the remaining intact and viable cells.

Cytotoxic activity of human lymphocytes: quanitative analysis of T cell and K cell cytotoxicity, revealing enzyme-like kinetics

Abstract: The mechanism of action of human cytotoxic lymphocytes was studied in two systems: T cell cytotoxicity in cell-mediated lympholysis (CML) and K cell cytotoxicity in antibody-dependent lymphocytotoxicity (ADL). The mechanisms resemble that of an enzyme, if the effector cells are regarded as enzyme and the target cells as substrate. On the basis of a kinetic analysis it was shown that the experimental data are compatible with a simple rate equation, which allows the definition of three constants: p , representing the maximal killing rate of the effector cell suspension (at target →∞); q , representing the maximal lysis of the target cells (at effector →∞); K which represents the Michaelis constant (i.e, the target cell number giving ½ V max ), when extrapolated to effector = 0. The constant K may be taken to reflect the affinity between effector and target cells. Furthermore, for the ADL system the influence of the effector cell concentration on Km was due not to the addition of inert cells but rather to the presence of cells that can bind but not kill. Finally, it was shown that in the ADL a K cell can recycle, i.e., kill more than one target cell. On the basis of these results, experimental conditions are proposed for optimal measurement of cellular cytotoxicity.

Role of the pneumococcal autolysin (murein hydrolase) in the release of progeny bacteriophage and in the bacteriophage-induced lysis of the host cells.

Abstract: The pneumococcal bacteriophage Dp-1 seems to require the activity of the N-acetylmuramic acid-L-alanine amidase of the host bacterium for the liberation of phage progeny into the medium. This conclusion is based on a series of observations indicating that the exit of progeny phage particles is prevented by conditions that specifically inhibit the activity of the pneumococcal autolysin. These inhibitory conditions are as follows: (i) growth of the bacteria on ethanolamine-containing medium; (ii) growth of the cells at pH values that inhibit penicillin-induced lysis of pneumococcal cultures and lysis in the stationary phase of growth; (iii) addition of trypsin or the autolysin-inhibitory pneumococcal Forssman antigen (lipoteichoric acid) to the growth medium before lysis; (iv) infection of an autolysin-defective pneumococcal mutant at a multiplicity of infection less than 10 (treatment of such infected mutant bacteria with wild-type autolysin from without can liberate the entrapped progeny phage particles); (v) release of phage particles and culture lysis can also be inhibited by the addition of chloramphenicol to infected cultures just before the time at which lysis would normally occur. Bacteria infected with Dp-1 under conditions nonpermissive for culture lysis and phage release secrete into the growth medium a substantial portion of their cellular Forssman antigen in the form of a macromolecular complex that has autolysin-inhibitory activity. We suggest that a phage product may trigger the bacterial autolysin by a mechanism similar to that operating during treatment of pneumococci with penicillin (Tomasz and Waks, 1975).

Development of a lysis-filtration blood culture technique.

Abstract: A lysed-blood culture system that quickly lyses patients' blood near neutrality and is relatively noninjurious to more delicate pathogens such as Haemophilus influenzae and Bacteroides fragilis is reported. The lysing solution includes culture medium, 0.004 M sodium carbonate and bicarbonate, 0.04% Triton X-100,and 0.6% Rhozyme (a mixture of proteases). Most of the pathogens tested multiplied in the lysing solution. The lysed blood normally is immediately filtered. The membrane is transferred to culture broth. The greatest advantage realized from this blood culture technique is separation of pathogens from antibiotics, bactericidal antibodies, complement, opsonins, and phagocytic systems. Another advantage is the concentration of organisms into a small volume of clear medium for faster growth and visualization of growth. It was observed that both gram-negative and -positive organisms were attracted during filtration to the filter material and were not removed from it by backwashing with buffer. Thus, filter membranes with porosities much larger than would nominally be expected to retain bacteria retained all or part of light and heavy Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus suspensions. Advantage may be taken of this phenomenon to use filters with larger pore sizes and avoid filter clogging by poorly lysed specimens. Porr lysis may result from addition of too much blood to the lysing solution, blood with elevated numbers of erythrocytes or leukocytes, or blood from some people whose blood is naturally more resistant to lysis.

Enzymes of the yeast lytic system produced by Arthrobacter GJM-1 bacterium and their role in the lysis of yeast cell walls.

Abstract: Yeast lytic system produced by Arthrobacter GJM-1 bacterium during growth on baker's yeast cell walls contains a complete set of enzymes which can hydrolyze all structural components of cell walls of Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Chromatographic fractionation of the lytic system showed the presence of two types of endo-beta-1,3-glucanase. Rapid lysis of isolated cell walls of yeast was induced only by endo-beta-1,3-glucanase exhibiting high affinity to insoluble beta-1,3-glucans and releasing laminaripentaose as the main product of hydrolysis of beta-1,3-glucans. This enzyme was able to lyse intact cells of S. cerevisiae only in the presence of an additional factor present in the Arthrobacter GJM-1 lytic system, which was identified as an alkaline protease. This enzyme possesses the lowest molecular weight among other identified enzyme components present in the lytic system. Its role in the solubilization of yeast cell walls from the outer surface by endo-beta-1,3-glucanase could be substituted by preincubation of cells with Pronase or by allowing the glucanase to act on cells in the presence of thiol reagents. The mechanism of lysis of intact cells and isolated cell walls by the enzymes of Arthrobacter GJM-1 is discussed in the light of the present conception of yeast cell wall structure.

Comparison of the Binding Properties of Two 6β-Amidinopenicillanic Acid Derivatives That Differ in Their Physiological Effects on Escherichia coli

Abstract: The 6-beta-amidinopenicillanic acid derivative, mecillinam, was highly specific in its action on the growth of Escherichia coli. Concentrations from the minimal inhibitory concentration (0.05 mug/ml) up to at least 200 mug/ml resulted in the conversion of E. coli rods into osmotically stable spherical cells without significantly inhibiting cell growth or causing cell lysis. A second amidinopenicillanic acid derivative [6-([4-morpholinylmethylene] amino) penicillanic acid] showed identical effects on cell growth at concentrations from its minimal inhibitory concentration (0.2 mug/ml) up to at least 5 mug/ml but, at higher concentrations, increasing amounts of lysis occurred. Neither of these compounds showed the immediate inhibition of cell division that is observed with typical beta-lactam antibiotics. We have compared the binding of these two amidinopenicillanic acids to the individual penicillin-binding proteins of E. coli. Both compounds showed a high specificity of binding to penicillin-binding protein 2 at low concentrations. At higher concentrations mecillinam still maintained its high specificity for protein 2 and very little binding of mecillinam to any of the other binding proteins was detected with concentrations up to 1 mg/ml. The morpholino compound, however, showed extensive binding to proteins 1 and 4, and slight binding to proteins 5 and 6 at high concentrations. The morpholino compound therefore combined both the physiological properties and the binding properties of mecillinam with some of those of typical penicillins and cephalosporins. Lysis probably occurs at high concentrations of morpholino compound because it binds to penicillin-binding protein 1, since this is believed to be the target with which beta-lactams interact to inhibit cell elongation.

Studies on the Cytotoxic Activity of Human Lymphocytes II. Interactions Between IgG and Fc Receptors Leading to Inhibition of K Cell Function

Abstract: The inhibition of human K cell-mediated cytolysis by a variety of immunoglobulin preparations was studied. It was found that inhibition was not a simple function of IgG concentration but was dependent on the mode of immunoglobulin presentation. The relative inhibitory capacity of IgG preparations on a weight basis was as follows: cell associated Ig ≥ immobilized immune complexes τ; insoluble immune complexes τ; soluble immune complexes τ; heat-aggregated Ig ≫ monomeric Ig. These results imply that the inhibitory capacity of immunoglobulin is determined by ligand (Fc) multivalency. It was found that although interactions between immunoglobulin and Fc receptors occur at low temperatures, these interactions lead neither to lysis nor to K cell inactivation. A temperature-sensitive post-binding event was required both for lysis to occur and for K cells to be inactivated. These findings lead us to propose that an IgG-induced redistribution (“capping”) of Fc receptors on the K cell surface may be required for cytolysis and for effector cell inactivation.

Oscillations in the synthesis of cell wall components in synchronized cultures of Escherichia coli.

Abstract: The rate of cell wall synthesis with respect to both proteins and lipids was determined in synchronized cultures of Escherichia coli B/r. Whereas the rate of total protein synthesis showed an exponential increase with cell age, the rate of incorporation of proteins and lipids into cell wall had a maximum at a cell age of 30 to 35 min, 15 min before cell division. This oscillation was observed in both the cytoplasmic membrane and in the outer membrane of the cell envelope.

An immunosuppressive factor from serum of thermally traumatized patients.

Abstract: An immunosuppressive factor was isolated and partially purified from a fraction of the serum of acute thermally traumatized patients which contained primarily albumins. The factor proved to be either a small protein or a peptide of molecular weight less than 10,000. It inhibited migration of peripheral blood leukocytes of thermally traumatized patients, and of guinea pig peritoneal macrophages. In the presence of the serum, it caused the lysis of peripheral lymphocytes from thermally traumatized patients, and depressed mitogenic stimulation of normal human peripheral lymphocytes. It had no effect on migration, and did not lyse peripheral blood lymphocytes of healthy subjects.

Spermidine-Deoxyribonucleic acid interaction in vitro and in Escherichia coli.

Abstract: The binding of spermidine to deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) was studied by equilibrium dialysis in a wide range of salt concentrations. The association constants ranged from 6 x 10(5) M-1 in 1 mM sodium cacodylate, pH 7.5, to 3 x 10(2) M-1 in 0.3 M NaCl. MgCl2 reduced spermidine-DNA interaction even more than NaCl so that in moderate-ionic-strength solutions (0.3 M NaCl, 0.002 M MgCl2) there was little detectable binding. Low-ionic-strength media were used to isolate DNA from Escherichia coli by a method shown to minimize loss of spermidine from the DNA. Considerable spermidine was associated with E. coli DNA, but control experiments indicated that complex formation had taken place during or after lysis of the cells. Exogenous DNA or ribonucleic acid added to spheroplasts at the time of their lysis caused most of the cellular spermidine to be scavenged by the extra nucleic acid. The data suggest that spermidine is relatively free in the cell and thereby capable of strong (high-affinity) associations with nucleic acids only after the ionic strength of the cell environment is lowered.

Mechanism of target cell lysis by cytolytic T lymphocytes. Characterization of specific lymphocyte‐target cell conjugates separated by velocity sedimentation

Abstract: Differential velocity sedimentation was applied for separating alloimmune T lymphocytes bound to target cells (TC) from free lymphocytes. Maximal size differences between lymphocytes and TC were achieved a) by isolating the fraction of small peritoneal lymphocytes (SPL) from an alloimmune peritoneal cell population, and b) by selecting large tumor cells as TC. Under the conditions used, most of the conjugates formed at room temperature consisted of one SPL bound to one TC, and adequate separation of bound from free SPL could be achieved within less than 5 min. Functional studies of the conjugate-enriched fractions showed that a minimum of 60 % of TC-bound SPL were indeed cytolytic. Conjugate-depleted fractions, however, were still lytic, suggesting that not all effector cells formed stable conjugates at room temperature. Transmission and scanning electron microscopy studies revealed that binding between SPL and TC was achieved through interpenetrating membrane projections and was characterized by point and broad zone contacts. When lysis was allowed to proceed, prominent changes of the TC membrane morphology, including loss of microvillous projections, appearance of localized blebs, pseudopod-like projections, and membrane defects were documented.

Bacteriolytic Action of Fluoride Ions

Abstract: Bacillus subtilis, Neisseria subflava, and LYT coccus were found to undergo massive lysis after growth in media containing 0.01 to 10 mM NaF. When cells of these organisms were transferred from late-exponential-phase cultures to 0.02 M sodium phosphate buffer plus 0.1 M KCl, they underwent spontaneous autolysis. Cells grown in media with fluoride were more liable to autolysis, and walls isolated from them also showed enhanced autolytic sensitivity, even though added fluoride did not directly stimulate autolysins. Sporadic or partial lysis occurred in populations of Streptococcus sanguis and Streptococcus mutans BHT or LM-7 after growth in fluoridated media. Most bacteria that were tested did not undergo fluoride-induced lysis. However, cells of all test bacteria were found to have reduced amounts of peptidoglycan per unit of cell weight when grown in the presence of fluoride. Incorporation of labeled lysine or glucosamine into peptidoglycan (Park-Hancock residue) was stimulated, instead of inhibited, by fluoride. However, fluoride also stimulated the loss of radioactivity from Park-Hancock residues of cells that had previously incorporated labeled lysine or glucosamine. Thus, fluoride appeared to enhance peptidoglycan turnover, and this turnover reduced the peptidoglycan contents of all bacteria tested, but induced lysis in only those bacteria that normally have highly active autolytic systems.

Cell survival in B16 melanoma after treatment with combinations of cytotoxic agents: lack of potentiation.

Abstract: The extent of tumour, cell kill, produced by treating B16 melanomas with vincristine, cyclophosphamide, 5-fluorouracil and gamma-rays, alone and in combination, was determined using an in vitro colony assay. Cell kill by vincristine was revealed as a reduction in the yield of cells obtained by trypsinization, and as a decrease in the colony-forming ability of the extracted cells. The reduction in cell yield was interpreted as evidence of rapid cell lysis. Cyclophosphamide and gamma-rays also reduced both cell yield and surviving fraction, but in this case the small decrease in cell yield was due to an increase in cell volume. FU had no effect on cell yield, but surviving fraction was reduced. Tumour weight was also measured, and used in conjunction with cell yield and surviving fraction data to calculate the fraction of surviving cells per tumour following treatment with the agents. In combination studies, single doses of two different cytotoxic agents were given either simultaneously, or up to 24 h apart in either sequence, and assays were performed 24 h after the second drug was given. Combinations of vincristine + cyclophosphamide and 5-fluorouracil + gamma-rays were chosen because they had been shown by other workers to exhibit marked schedule dependency, including considerabl potentiation, against leukaemic cell lines. However, in the B16 melanoma there was no evidence of schedule-dependent cell killing with either of these combinations. For all sequences studied, the fraction of surviving cells per tumour was slightly greater than the predicted additive response calculated from single-drug controls.