Fig. 3

Cell cycle progression after partial- and complete glutamine- and glucose starvation for short term exposures and after 7 days. Percentage of cells occupying each cell cycle phase after cells was propagated in media according to metabolic state for the appropriate exposure period (2 h, 4 h and 6 h). Hela cells propagated in medium containing 6 mM glucose and 1 mM L-glutamine demonstrated an increased sub-G₁- and G₂M faction. MDA-MB-231 cells propagated in medium containing 6 mM glucose and 1 mM L-glutamine also showed an increased sub-G₁ fraction. MDA-MB-231 and HeLa cells propagated in medium containing 6 mM glucose and 1 mM L-glutamine demonstrated an increased sub-G₁ and G₂M fraction. HeLa- and MDA-MB-231 cells propagated in media containing no glucose or L-glutamine demonstrated an increase in the number of apoptotic cells and the HeLa cells also showed an increase in the G₂M fraction. The effects on the cell cycle and apoptosis induction on day 7 by means of flow cytometry using propidium iodide staining showed significant induction of apoptosis in all treated samples. Hela- and MDA-MB-231 cells propagated in medium containing 6 mM glucose and 1 mM L-glutamine 7 days before also demonstrated an increase in the number of cells occupying the S phase. The MDA-MB-231 cells also showed a G₂M increase. The HeLa cells propagated in medium containing 3 mM glucose and 0.5 mM L-glutamine also presented with increased G₂M fraction. MDA-MB-231 cells propagated in DMEM containing 0 mM-3 mM glucose and 0 mM-0.5 mM l-glutamine demonstrated an increased number of cells in the S phase. The Hela cells propagated in medium containing 0 mM glucose and 0 mM L-glutamine for 2 h and 4 h also showed an increased S phase. An asterisk (*) indicates P-value < 0.05