Relative quantification of mtDNA and cell growth analysis of PC-3 fusion cells.

<p>A Analysis of mtDNA relative to nuclear DNA over a period of 18 weeks after cell fusion of PC-3 ρ⁰ cells and cytoplasts of PC-3 MTS-DsRed (F 1–3, solid lines) or PC-3 MTS-EGFP ρ⁰ cells and cytoplasts of PC-3 MTS-DsRed (F A) and cytoplasts of 143B.TK^- MTS-DsRed (F B) (dashed lines) using a primer set for amplification of nuclear (18S rDNA) and mitochondrial (ND5 gene) DNA. Data were normalized to measurements of untreated wild type cells (dotted line). Data represent means ± SD obtained in three determinations. <b>B</b> Calculation of doubling time of PC-3 cells in media with uridine (dark grey bars) and without uridine (light grey bars). Total cell number was measured every 24 h over a period of six days and cell doubling was estimated using exponential regression. The presented data are means ± SD obtained in four experiments. Significance levels between wild type and the different fusion cell lines or if designated between two fusion cell lines were indicated. *P<0.05, **P<0.01, ***P<0.001. <i>B Inset</i> Comparison of relative mtDNA content and cell doubling time. MtDNA content and cell doubling time of PC-3 fusion cells cultured without uridine (close symbols) were normalized to wild type cells and a linear regression was performed (solid line).