Objective: To investigate variations of mtDNA in mouse tumors and to explore the relationship between mtDNA mutations and murine carcinogenesis.
Methods: Variations of D-loop, ND3 and tRNAIle + Glu + Met gene fragments of mtDNA from six mouse tumor cell lines were analyzed by PCR-RFLP and PCR-SSCP techniques.
Results: ND3 and tRNAIle + Glu + Met gene fragments of mtDNA from the tumors showed no variations at 27 endonuclease sites. The D-loop of mtDNA from Hca-F demonstrated an additional endonuclease site of Hinf I in contrast to the inbred mouse. Upon PCR-SSCP analysis, the D-loop of mtDNA was found to possess mutations in 4 of 6 tumors.
Conclusion: D-loop appears to be the hot spot for tumor mtDNA mutations, which may contribute to the carcinogenesis of murine tumors.