The rate of deoxyribonucleic acid synthesis by cultured Chinese-hamster ovary cells. An application of isotope-dilution analysis.

The rate of DNA synthesis is exponentially growing cells was determined by isotopedilution analysis of the incorporation of [me-3H]thymidine. Thymidine concentrations greater than 7 micrometer were used so that the rate-limiting step governing incorporation would be at the level of DNA polymerase rather than at the level of thymidine kinase [Sjostrom & Forsdyke (1974) Biochem. J. 138, 253-262]. In early exponential phase the rate determined by isotope-dilution analysis closely correlated with the rates calculated either from growth curves or from known cell-cycle parameters. However, in late-exponential phase the rate calculated from the growth curve was less than that determined by isotope-dilution analysis. We conclude that, under certain conditions, the pool-corrected rate of incorporation of [me-3H]thymidine, as determined by isotope-dilution analysis, can accurately reflect the rate of DNA synthesis. Discrepancies between the observed rate of DNA synthesis and increase in cell number could reflect an exponential degeneration of post-S-phase cells.