Mitochondrial DNA sequence analysis of two mouse hepatocarcinoma cell lines

AIM: To study genetic difference of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) between two hepatocarcinoma cell lines (Hca-F and Hca-P) with diverse metastatic characteristics and the relationship between mtDNA changes in cancer cells and their oncogenic phenotype. METHODS: Mitochondrial DNA D-loop, tRNA(Met+Glu+Ile) and ND3 gene fragments from the hepatocarcinoma cell lines with 1 100, 1 126 and 534 bp in length respectively were analysed by PCR amplification and restriction fragment length polymorphism techniques. The D-loop 3' end sequence of the hepatocarcinoma cell lines was determined by sequencing. RESULTS: No amplification fragment length polymorphism and restriction fragment length polymorphism were observed in tRNA(Met+Glu+Ile), ND3 and D-loop of mitochondrial DNA of the hepatocarcinoma cells. Sequence differences between Hca-F and Hca-P were found in mtDNA D-loop. CONCLUSION: Deletion mutations of mitochondrial DNA restriction fragment may not play a significant role in carcinogenesis. Genetic difference of mtDNA D-loop between Hca-F and Hca-P, which may reflect the environmental and genetic influences during tumor progression, could be linked to their tumorigenic phenotypes. (C) 2005 The WJG Press and Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.