EVALUATION OF DNA CROSSLINKS AND MONOADDUCTS IN MOUSE EMBRYO FIBROBLASTS AFTER TREATMENT WITH MONO-AND BIFUNCTIONAL FUROCOUMARINS AND 365 nm (UVA) IRRADIATION. POSSIBLE RELATIONSHIP TO CARCINOGENICITY

Abstract— Formation of crosslinks in DNA by various mono- and bifunctional furocoumarins plus UVA light in mouse embryo fibroblasts was evaluated by a NaI density gradient centrifugation method. Angelicin and 3-carbethoxypsoralen did not form any crosslinks: however, angelicin was slightly carcinogenic for mouse skin, whereas 3-carbethoxypsoralen was not carcinogenic. Psoralen induced DNA crosslinking, in a dose-dependent fashion and was highly carcinogenic for mouse skin. In contrast to the psoralen-induced photoadducts (120 per 10⁶ nucleotides) which were left unrepaired, 41% of the 3-carbethoxypsoralen adducts (30 per 10⁶ nucleotides) were removed during 1 h of dark post-incubation.     

DIFFERENT (DIRECT and INDIRECT) MECHANISMS FOR THE INDUCTION OF DNA-PROTEIN CROSSLINKS IN HUMAN CELLS BY FAR- and NEAR-ULTRAVIOLET RADIATIONS (290 and 405 nm)

Abstract— Apparent DNA-protein crosslinking induced by monochromatic 290 and 405 nm Tadiations was measured in cultured human P3 teratocarcinoma cells with DNA alkaline elution techniques. The rates of the induction of crosslinks by 290 nm radiation were the same when the cells were irradiated either aerobically or anaerobically or when the cells were in an H₂O or D₂O aqueous environment. With 405 nm radiation, anaerobic irradiation reduced the induction of the crosslinks (dose modifying factor is about 0.2), and about twice as many crosslinks were observed when the cells were irradiated in an environment of D₂O rather than H₂O. The results are consistent with the hypothesis that far-UV radiation induces DNA-protein crosslinks by a direct mechanism, whereas near-UV radiation induces crosslinks via indirect photodynamic photosensitizations in which unidentified cellular endogenous photosensitizers and reactive species of oxygen are used.     

RNA—PROTEIN CROSSLINK AND RNA CHAIN BREAK FORMATION ON UV-IRRADIATION OF TOBACCO MOSAIC VIRUS

Abstract— The ability of UV-irradiation (254 nm) to induce formation of RNA-protein crosslinks in tobacco mosaic virus (TMV) particles have been studied by Cs₂SO₄ density gradient centrifugation, analytical centrifugation, nitrocellulose filter binding and two-dimensional peptide mapping. RNA-protein crosslinks were found to be formed on UV-irradiation of TMV, but the parallel process of UV-induced RNA chain breakage complicated their quantitation. Using speciall devised equations, the quantum yield of RNA-protein crosslink formation was found to be 0.65 × 10⁻⁵ and that of RNA chain break formation 0.95 × 10⁻⁵.     

THE PHOTODYNAMIC EFFECT OF HEMATOPORPHYRIN ON DNA

Abstract— Breakage of DNA in vitro and inside E. colt cells has been determined after exposure to monochromatic 365 nm light in the presence of 10 µM hematoporphyrin. When measured by alkaline sucrose sedimentation, the yields of breaks were 1.4 × 10^-12 per dalton and per J/m² for Col El-DNA in vitro and 5.9 × 10^-3 per dalton and per J/m² for superinfecting phage Λ DNA inside E. coli cells made permeable by toluene. No breaks were found by neutral sucrose sedimentation, demonstrating that the lesions represent alkali-labile bonds. The majority of the alkali-labile bonds were induced by singlet oxygen, as evidenced by the several-fold higher yield obtained in D₂O-containing buffer.     

EFFECTS OF INTENSITY AND FLUENCE UPON DNA SINGLE-STRAND BREAKS INDUCED BY EXCIMER LASER RADIATION

Abstract— A Xenon-chloride excimer laser emitting energy at 308 nm was used to induce single-strand breaks (SSBs, frank breaks plus alkali-labile lesions as assayed by alkaline sucrose sedimentation techniques) in purified DNA from Bacillus subtilis . A fluence response study and a peak pulse intensity study were performed. At a pulse energy of 0.1 mJ/pulse, the radiation induced SSBs in a linear fashion (91 SSB/10⁸ Da per MJ/m²) to a maximum exprimental fluence of 1.28 MJ/m². The pulse intensity study showed that there were no significant changes in DNA breakage (105 SSB/10⁸ Da) between 2.93 times 10⁹ and 5.86 times 10¹¹ W/m² (0.11 and 22.0 mJ/pulse) at a constant total fluence of 1.1 MJ/m² (27000 mJ dose). This study has verified and extended previous work by quantifying the yield of SSBs induced in DNA by this laser radiation.     

ANALYSIS OF FLUORESCENCE KINETICS AND ENERGY TRANSFER IN ISOLATED α SUBUNITS OF PHYCOERYTHRIN FROM Nostoc sp.

Abstract— The fluorescence decay profiles, relative quantum yield, and transmission of the phycoerythrin a subunit, isolated from the photosynthetic antenna system of Nostoc sp., were measured using single picosecond laser excitation. The fluorescence decay profiles were found to be intensity independent for the intensity range investigated (4 × 10¹³ and 4 × 10¹⁵ photons-cm-² per pulse). The decay profiles were fitted to a model assuming both chromophores absorb and fluoresce. The inferred total deactivation rates for the two chromophores, in the absence of energy transfer and when the effects of the response time of the streak camera and the finite pulse width are properly included, are 1.0 × 10¹⁰s' and 1.0 × 10⁹ s ¹ for the s and f chromophores. respectively, whereas the transfer rate between the two fluorophorcs is estimated to be 1.0 × 10¹⁰ s⁻¹ giving a s→ f transfer rate on the order of (100 ps)⁻¹. Steady-atate polarization measurements were found to be equal to those calculated using the rate parameters inferred from the kinetic model fit to the fluorescence decays. The apparent decrease in the relative fluorescence quantum yield and increase of the relative transmission with increasing excitation intensity is suggestive of ground state depletion and upper excited state absorption. Evidence suggests that exciton annihilation is absent within isolated α subunits for the intensity range investigated (4 × 10¹³ to 4 × 10¹⁵ photons-cm ² per pulse).     

FAR-RED INDUCED, LONG-LIVED AFTERGLOW FROM PHOTOSYNTHETIC CELLS. SIZE OF AFTERGLOW UNIT AND PATHS OF ENERGY ACCUMULATION AND DISSIPATION

Abstract— –Small amounts of N -methyl phenazonium methosulphate (PMS) added to a suspension of Chlorella pyrenoidosa accelerate the emission of the long-lived far-red induced afterglow without greatly changing the amount of light emitted. The effect is noticeable in dilute suspensions at a PMS concentration of 10^-9 M. The concept of afterglow unit is introduced and defined as that part of the sample in which the rate of energy reemission can be controlled by a single molecule of PMS. The number of chlorophyll molecules per afterglow unit is about 10⁵. It is possible that the afterglow unit is identical to the thylakoid.
The rate constant for the final first order decay phase of afterglow at room temperature is about 0.7 min^-1 without PMS and about 3 times larger for a unit with one PMS molecule.
Diuron (DCMU) lowers the rate of afterglow decay. Desaspidin on the other hand decreases the amount of light emitted without affecting the decay rate. Carbonylcyanide- m -chlorophenyl hydrazone (CCCP) decreases the afterglow over the whole time-range and increases the decay rate. A kinetic model is developed to account for the results.     

FREQUENCY OF ULTRAVIOLET RADIATION-INDUCED MUTATION AT THE hprt LOCUS IN REPAIR-PROFICIENT MURINE FIBROBLASTS TRANSFECTED WITH THE denV GENE OF BACTERIOPHAGE T4

Abstract— Thc frequency of spontaneous and ultraviolet radiation (UVR)-induced mutation at the hprt locus was determined in control and denV-transfected, repair-proficient murine fibroblasts. Control cells removed an average of 25% of pyrimidine dimers induced by exposure to 150 J/m²UVR from an FS40 sunlamp within 24 h; under the same conditions of induction and repair, denV-transfected cells removed an average of 71% of pyrimidine dimers. Control cells were somewhat more resistant than denV-transfected cells to killing by UVR. The average frequency of spontancous mutation at the hprt locus for control and denV-transfected cells was 3 and 15 6-thioguanine (6-TG)-resistant colonies per 10⁶ surviving cells, respectively; there was no statistically significant difference between control and dcnV-transfected cells. However, after exposure to 75 or 150 J/m² UVR, denV-transfected cells had a significantly lower frequency of mutation to 6-TG resistance. After exposure to a fluence of 75 J/m², the average frequency of UVR-induced mutation at the hprt locus was 166 mutant colonies per lo^h surviving cells for control cells and 92 mutant colonies for denV-transfectcd cells; after 150 J/m², control cells had 205 6-TG-resistant colonies per 10⁶ cells, while dmV-transfected cclls had 61 mutant colonies. These results demonstrate that UVR-induced pyrimidine dimers are mutagenic photoproducts in mammalian cells.     

PRIOR EXPOSURE OF HUMAN CELLS TO NEAR UV-RADIATION GIVES A DECREASE IN THE AMOUNT OF THE UNSCHEDULED DNA-SYNTHESIS INDUCED BY FAR UV-RADIATION

Pretreatment of human cells with near UV radiation (UVA) in fluences exceeding 5 × 10⁴ Jm⁻² caused a decrease in the amount of the unscheduled DNA synthesis induced by far UV radiation (UVC). The DNA repair synthesis, as measured by the incorporation of [³H] -thymidine, is reduced by nearly a factor of 2 for a UVA radiation exposure of 1.5 × 10⁵ Jm⁻². Since solar UVA fluence rate is rather independent of latitude, this figure corresponds to a UVA exposure time of 50-60 min from noon sunlight in the summer time.     

CHEMICAL FILTERS FOR NARROW BAND U.V. IRRADIATION BETWEEN 235 AND 300 nm

Abstract— Six chemical filters are described. Bands of 10–20 nm half width are isolated at the following wavelengths: 235–240–252–260–277–294 nm. The filters transmit at the center of their band pass between 1.5 and 30 per cent of the incident radiation. Average photon fluence rates of 15–150 ergs mm^-2 sec^-1 (0.3 × 10^-3 to 3.5 × 10^-3μE cm^-2 sec^-1) are obtained with a 500 W high pressure mercury arc focussed on a 10 cm^-2 area. Under these conditions, the flux transmitted in the near i.r., visible and near u.v. does not exceed 1 per cent of the total flux transmitted. The flux transmitted outside a 40 nm band centered at the maximum does not exceed 1 per cent of the total transmitted flux for four of the filters, this flux goes up to 4 per cent of the total for the 294 nm filter and to 10 per cent for the 235 nm filter.     

THE SINGLET OXYGEN REACTIVITY OF BILIVERDIN

Abstract— In 1, 1, 2-trichlorotrifluoroethane solution biliverdin physically quenches singlet oxygen at a rate of 8 × l0^sM-¹s^-1 and reacts chemically at 6 × 10 ⁵M-¹s^-1 to give a red product. In D, O solution the rate constants are PD dependent and range from 1.5–6 times 10¹⁰M-¹s^-1 for quenching and the chemical rate varies from 3–5 × 10⁸ M^-1 s^-1 to give colorless products.     

SUNLIGHT-INDUCED PYRIMIDINE DIMERS IN HUMAN SKIN FIBROBLASTS IN COMPARISON WITH DIMERIZATION AFTER ARTIFICIAL UV-IRRADIATION

Abstract— We compared artificial UV-sources such as germicidal- or sun-lamps with summer noon sunlight in Switzerland for selective efficiency in the induction of pyrimidine dimers in the DNA of human cells. In our studies we determined cytosine-thymine (C-T) as well as thymine-thymine dimer densities (T-T) by high pressure liquid chromatography in cultures of xeroderma pigmentosum cells of group A. Using far-UV light from a germicidal lamp, we found a rate of formation per Jirr² for C-T and T-T of 0.0019% and 0.0024%, respectively, of the total thymine radioactivity in hydrolysates of [³H]thymidine labeled cells. After irradiation with an unfiltered sunlamp we measured a rate of formation of 0.0005% per Jm-² both for C-T and T-T, based on the sunlamp emission of 297 ±4 nm wavelength. Utilization of Kodacel- or Mylar-filters lowered the rate of dimerization by a factor of 2 and 60, respectively. One hour of irradiation with noon summer sunlight induced 0.038 ±0.012% C-T and 0.036 ±0.011% T-T. This extent of dimer production is equivalent to 15 Jm^-2 of far-UV exposure at 254 nm.     

Induction of 8-Oxo-7,8-Dihydro-2'-Deoxyguanosine by Ultraviolet Radiation in Calf Thymus DNA and HeLa Cells

Abstract— The levels of 8-oxo-7,8-dihydro-2'-deoxyguanosine (8-oxodGuo) in purified calf thymus DNA and HeLa cells were measured following exposure to either UVC, UVB or UVA wavelengths. This DNA damage was quantitated using HPLC coupled with an electrochemical detector. The 8-oxodGuo was induced in purified DNA in a linear dose-dependent fashion by each portion of the UV spectrum at yields of 100, 0.46 and 0.16 8-oxodGuo per 10⁵ 2'-deoxyguanosine (dGuo) per kJ/m² for UVC, UVB and UVA, respectively. However, the amount of 8-oxodGuo in HeLa cells irradiated with these UV sources decreased to approximately 2.0, 0.013 and 0.0034 8-oxodGuo per 10⁵ dGuo per kJ/m², respectively. In contrast, the levels of cyclobutyl pyrimidine dimers were similar in both irradiated DNA and cells. Therefore, 8-oxodGuo is induced in cells exposed to wavelengths throughout the UV spectrum although it appears that protective precesses exist within cells that reduce the UV-induced formation of this oxidative DNA damage. Cell survival was also measured and the number of dimers or 8-oxodGuo per genome per lethal event determined. These calculations are consistent with the conclusion that dimers play a major role in cell lethality for UVC- or UVB-irradiated cells but only a minor role in cells exposed to UVA wavelengths. In addition, it was found that the relative yield of 8-oxodGuo to dimers increased nearly 1000-fold in both UVA-irra-diated cells and DNA compared with cells subjected to either UVC or UVB. These results are supportive of the hypothesis that 8-oxodGuo, and possible other forms of oxidative damage, play an important role in the induction of biological effects caused by wavelengths in the UVA portion of the solar spectrum.     

EXCISION REPAIR OF UVR-INDUCED PYRIMIDINE DIMERS IN CORNEAL DNA

Abstract— We measured excision repair of ultraviolet radiation (UVR)-induced pyrimidine dimers in DNA of the corneal epithelium of the marsupial, Monodelphis domestica , using damage-specific nucleases from Micrococcus luteus in conjunction with agarose gel electrophoresis. We observed that 100 J ^-2 of UVR from aFS–40 sunlamp(280–400 nm) induced an average of 2.2 ± 0.2 times 10^-2 endonuclease-sensitive sites per kilobase (ESS/kb) (pyrimidine dimers) and that ∼ 50% of the dimers were repaired within 12 h after exposure. We also determined that an exposure of 400 J m^-2 was needed to induce comparable numbers of pyrimidine dimers (2.5 times 10^-2) in the DNA of skin of M. domestica in vivo . In addition, we found that 50% of the dimers were also removed from the epidermal cells of M. domestica within 12 h after exposure. A dose of 100 J m^-2 was necessary to induce similar levels of pyrimidine dimers (2.0 ± 0.2 times 10^-2) in the DNA of the cultured marsupial cell line Pt K2 ( Potorous tridactylus ).     

FLASH PHOTOLYSIS STUDIES OF OROTIC ACID

Abstract— The triplet state of orotic acid has been studied by flash photolysis. The rate for dimerization has been observed to vary from 2 × 10⁹ M ^-1 sec^-1 at pH 1 where both the triplet and ground state molecules are neutral, to under 10⁸ M^-1 sec^-1 above pH 9 where both the triplet and ground state molecules are doubly ionized. The p K of the triplet state has been measured as 4.6. The rate of oxygen quenching for the triplet is 2–3 × 10⁹ M^-1 sec^-1 while the rate of radiationless decay in solution is 0.73 × 10⁴ sec^-1. The triplet absorption spectra have been measured for the two ionic forms of the triplet.     

UVA self-photosensitized oxygenation of beta-ionone

The steady-state UVA (350 nm) photolysis of ( E )-β-ionone ( 1 ) in aerated toluene solutions was studied by ¹H NMR spectroscopy. The formation of the 1,2,4-trioxane ( 2 ) and 5,8-endoperoxide ( 5 ) derivatives in the ratio of 4:1 was observed. Time-resolved laser induced experiments at 355 nm, such as laser-flash photolysis, photoacoustic and singlet oxygen ¹O₂ phosphorescence detection, confirmed the formation of the excited triplet state of 1 with a quantum yield Φ _T = 0.50 as the precursor for the generation of singlet oxygen ¹O₂ ( Φ _Δ = 0.16) and the isomeric α-pyran derivative ( 3 ), which was a reaction intermediate detected by NMR. In turn, the reaction of ¹O₂ with 1 and 3 occurred with rate constants of 1.0 × 10⁶ and 2.5 × 10⁸  m ⁻¹s⁻¹ to yield the oxygenated products 5 and 2 , respectively, indicating the relevance of the fixed s-cis configuration in the α-pyran ring in the concerted [2+4] cycloaddition of ¹O₂.     

ASCORBIC ACID AS A PHOTOOXIDATION INHIBITOR

Abstract— The rate constant for total quenching of singlet oxygen by ascorbic acid has been determined using the inhibition of the bleaching of 9, 10-dimethylanthracene by AA in pyridine. The rate constant was 8.4 × 10^-6 M ^-1 s^-1, as determined photochemically, and 1.06 10^-7 M ^-1 s^-1 as determined in a dark reaction.     

MEASUREMENT OF DNA CROSSLINKS BY S1 NUCLEASE: INDUCTION AND REPAIR IN PSORALEN-PLUS-360 nm LIGHT TREATED ESCHERICHIA COLI

Abstract—DNA crosslinks in Escherichia coli cells. exposed to 4.5',8-trimethylpsoralen plus 360 nm light, were measured using a rapid and sensitive new approach. The assay is based on the specificity of S₁ nuclease from Aspergillus oryzae to single-stranded DNA. Bacterial cells were lysed and the DNA denatured by alkali. Following acid neutralization. crosslinked DNA undergoes spontaneous renaturation and is rendered S₁-nuclease resistant and therefore acid-precipitable. The single-stranded fraction after denaturation by alkali decreases with increasing near UV light exposure in the presence of TMP following first order kinetics. The kinetics were faster when exposure was at 4°C rather than at 20°C. This suggests that excision of crosslinks occurs during exposure at the higher temperature. Indeed. since the rate of DNA crosslinking in a uvr B mutant which is excision-deficient was higher than in wild type bacteria at 4°C, some excision must have occurred even in the cold. DNA from excision-proficient cells incubated at 37°C following exposure to TMP-plus-near UV at 4° showed a greater single stranded fraction than that from non-incubated cells. This indicates repair of DNA crosslinks. which proceeded with a half-time of 8 min at 37°C and was unaffected by substitution of thymine in DNA by 5-bromouracil.     

PHOTODYNAMIC EFFECTS OF PROFLAVINE ON BACTERIOPHAGE φ times 174 AND ITS ISOLATED DNA

Abstract. Proflavine-mediated photoinactivation of φ times 174 phage and its isolated DNA was studied under identical irradiation conditions. The inactivations followed single-hit kinetics and a linear relationship was obtained in reciprocal plots of the inactivation rates vs the proflavine concentrations for both phage and isolated DNA. The phage photoinactivation rate was increased with an increase in the amount of proflavine bound to the phage DNA in a strong binding range (0.01-0.04 proflavine/ nucleotide) as the total proflavine concentration was increased or the ionic strength decreased. Further, a phage-specific factor was also found to affect the inactivation rate. The photodynamic treatment induced mutations in three phage strains from "amber" to "wild type" at a mutation rate per lethal hit of 0.3 times 10^-5 to 2.6 times 10^-5. In contrast to phage infectivity, the φ times 174 DNA infectivity was measurable only at a high multiplicity of infection, and its photoinactivation occurred only at high proflavine concentrations. The photoinactivation rate was enhanced either with a decrease in the multiplicity of infection or with the use of spheroplasts of recA mutants strains. The results are discussed in terms of the nature of and possible repair mechanisms of photodynamically induced lesions in φ times 174 phage DNA.