Figure 3.

Results of semiquantitative RT-PCR. Cell growth conditions were reported elsewhere (Auricchio al. 1999). Sodium butyrate was dissolved in water (1 M stock solution) and was delivered to cells at a final concentration of 5 mM. Treatment was performed overnight. The fluorescence-based semiquantitative PCR approach has been described elsewhere (Patrone et al. 2000). Regression lines correlating PCR yield to cDNA concentration were determined for each sample by pooling three dilutions of three independent PCRs. Relative transcript abundance was evaluated as the ratio between the RET and the G3PDH line slopes. A and E, Haplotypes of three unrelated control individuals and two unaffected members of a family, sharing an identical-by-descent allele (shaded boxes). From top to bottom, the two alleles of promoter region (in italics) SNP2, SNP13, SNP14 (bold), SNP15, and SNP19 are indicated. B and F, Semiquantitative analysis of total RET mRNA (relative values). C and G, the expression profiles of Ret isoform 51 (black) and isoform 9 (gray) are reported (absolute values). D and H, Graphical representation of RET51:RET9 ratio.