The mitochondrial genome sequence of the BS-C-1 cell line is at odds with the reported derivation from Cercopithecus aethiops

The BS-C-1 cell line widely used in virological research was reportedly derived from the African green monkey Cercopithecus (Chlorocebus) aethiops. We used Sanger sequencing to determine the full nucleotide sequence of mtDNA in BS-C-1 cells. The mitochondrial genome in this cell line is 16,456 bp long and has an organization typical of that in other mammalian genomes with 37 genes, including 2 rRNAs, 22 tRNAs, and 13 polypeptide-encoding genes. Surprisingly, this genome is most closely related to that of Chlorocebus pygerythrus, which does not agree with the reported derivation of this cell line from C. aethiops. Another unexpected observation is the presence of mtDNA length heteroplasmy within the MT-ND6 gene, with the variant containing a stretch of 8 Cs encoding a functional gene, whereas the variant containing 9 Cs encodes a frameshifted gene. It is unclear whether the latter variant is nonfunctional or whether it is corrected by programmed translational ribosomal −1 frameshifting. The availability of the full mtDNA sequence for the BS-C-1 cell line should increase its utility by enabling studies on mtDNA transcription and replication.