Cytogenetic evidence for hemizygosity at the thymidine kinase locus in P388 mouse lymphoma cells

A detailed cytogenetic investigation was carried out on P388 mouse lymphoma cells. The cells have a mean chromosome number of 36.86 with a mode and median of 37 chromosomes. G-banding analysis of 12 spreads revealed a total of 15 marker chromosomes with chromosome 11, the determinant of thymidine kinase, being present only in single copy per cell. It is therefore concluded that the P388 cell line is hemizygous at the thymidine kinase locus. Thymidine kinase activities were assayed in P388 cells and two other malignant cell lines, clone 707 Friend mouse leukaemia cells and L5178Y mouse lymphoma cells. No clear relationship was observed between enzyme activity and gene dosage.