Whole genome sequencing analysis of small and large colony mutants from the mouse lymphoma assay

The Thymidine kinase (Tk) gene forward mutation assay, known as the mouse lymphoma assay (MLA), has been widely used for evaluating the genotoxicity of chemical agents. A striking morphological feature of Tk mutant colonies is the bimodal distribution of their sizes, with cells from the large colonies growing at a normal rate and cells from the small colonies growing at a slower rate than normal. To understand the molecular distinction for the different growth rates, we performed whole genome sequencing (WGS) analysis of the large and small colony mutants generated from the MLA. Three large colony and three small colony mutants generated from cells treated with 4-nitroquinoline 1-oxide (4-NQO) or the vehicle control were selected for analysis. The WGS data were analyzed for loss of heterozygosity (LOH) and chromosome copy number along chromosome 11, where the Tk gene is located. Although there were LOH alterations in both large and small colony mutants, copy number changes near Tk locus were found only in small colony mutants produced by the vehicle control and 4-NQO treatments. The chromosome copy number in the regions near the Tk locus increased from two to three or four in the spontaneous small colony mutants and decreased from two to one in the 4-NQO-induced small colony mutants. These results suggest that chromosome damage was repaired differently in the large and small colony mutants, resulting in significant chromosome alterations in the small colony mutants, but not in the large colony mutants. Thus, chromosome alterations near the Tk locus may play a major role in the inhibition of cell growth in the Tk small colony mutants.