REPAIR OF PSORALEN PLUS NEAR ULTRAVIOLET LIGHT DAMAGE IN BACTERIOPHAGE T4

Abstract— The sensitivity of bacteriophage T4 to psoralen plus NUV was investigated using a series of T4 repair defective mutants. The recombinational repair deficient mutants T4x, T4y and T4w were more sensitive than wild-type; while T4v, an endonuclease V mutant, exhibited the same sensitivity as wild-type. However, endonuclease V appears to initiate abortive repair in the absence of the x and presumably y gene products. Host repair gene products were shown not to be involved in the repair of psoralen plus NUV damages in T4.     

LASER CROSS-LINKING OF PROTEINS TO NUCLEIC ACIDS: PHOTODEGRADATION AND ALTERNATIVE PHOTOPRODUCTS OF THE BACTERIOPHAGE T4 GENE 32 PROTEIN

Pulsed laser cross-linking provides a means of introducing a covalent bond between proteins and the nucleic acids to which they are bound. This rapid cross-linking effectively traps the equilibrium that exists at the moment of irradiation and thus allows examination of the protein-nucleic acid interactions that existed. Laser irradiation may also induce photodestruction of protein and we have used the bacteriophage T4 gene 32 protein to investigate this phenomenon. Our results show that both nonspecific and specific photoproducts can occur, specifically at wavelengths where the peptide backbone of proteins is known to absorb. These results demonstrate that nonspecific photodegradation can be correlated with the formation of a specific photodegradation product. The formation of this product was monitored to show that product yield is nonlinearly dependent on laser power and wavelength. We have also investigated an unexpected photoproduct whose formation is dependent on the length of the polynucleotide to which the gene 32 protein binds and that further demonstrates the complexities of analyzing protein-nucleic acid interactions through the use of UV laser cross-linking. These data provide essential information for the establishment of appropriate conditions for future studies that use UV cross-linking of protein-nucleic acid complexes.     

A NEW SILENT MUTATION FOUND IN THE CHINESE PAH LOCUS AND ITS ROLE IN THE PRENATAL DIAGNOSIS OF PHENYLKETONURIA

A silent mutation or sequence polymorphism, A to T substitution at codon 399 in exon11 of the PAH gene from a Chinese PKU patient, was found by sequence analysis. The fre-quencies of this new mutation in normal and abnormal (PKU) genes were 0.005 and 0.09,respectively, based on the analyses of 100 normal individuals and 39 PKU patients usingDNA amplification with polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and oligonucleotide hybridizationmethods. This silent mutation can be used as a "genetic marker" for PKU prenatal diagno-sis. Recently, a fetus at risk for PKU, who could not be completely predicted by RFLPslinkage analysis, was prenatally diagnosed with this genetic marker.     

FORMATION OF 5-HYDROXYMETHYLCYTOSINE-CONTAINING PYRIMIDINE DIMERS IN UV-IRRADIATED BACTERIOPHAGE T4 DNA

Cyclobutyl pyrimidine dimers composed of 5-hydroxymethylcytosine and thymine (5HMC>T dimer for a mutant of T4 ( denV ) that is unable to excise pyrimidine dimers from its DNA. The ability of 5HMC to form dimers suggests that other modified pyrimidines such as 5-methylcytosine can participate in dimer formation, particularly at the UV wavelengths in sunlight likely to be responsible for the induction of skin cancer.     

COMPARISON OF THE LETHAL EFFECT OF 5-IODOURACIL INCORPORATED INTO BACTERIOPHAGE T4 IN THE PRESENCE AND ABSENCE OF NEAR-VISIBLE LIGHT

Abstract— Bacteriophages T2 or T4 containing 5-iodouracil (IUra) substituted for thymine in their DNA are inactivated by near-visible light, with fluorescent lamps as the source of near-visible light. Inactivation increases with the dose of near-visible light and follows first order kinetics. Relative inactivation rates are linearly proportional to percent substitution. Equivalent per cent substitution by IUra or 5-iodo-2'-deoxyuridine (IdUrd) results in equivalent sensitization to inactivation with both T2 and T4. However, incorporation of IUra into T4 and T2 also is lethal in the absence of light. The lethal effect of IUra substitution differs from the lethal effect of IUra substitution plus near-visible light irradiation in at least three respects: (1) IUra substitution is lethal for T4 under conditions where the residual viability is stable and where environmental light cannot account for the inactivation. (2) The hit curve for IUra lethality, as a function of per cent IUra substitution, has a large shoulder while the hit curve for sensitization to inactivation by near-visible light, as a function of per cent IUra substitution, has no shoulder. (3) At equivalent extents of inactivation. IdUrd substitution in the absence of light has a greater effect on phenotypic expression of T4 than either near-visible light irradiation alone or IUra substitution plus near-visible light irradiation, as measured by either delay in appearance or decrease in total amount of two induced enzyme activities (dihydrofolate reductase and deoxycytidylate hydroxymethylase).     

CHRONIC ULTRAVIOLET RADIATION-INDUCED INCREASE IN SKIN IRON and THE PHOTOPROTECTIVE EFFECT OF TOPICALLY APPLIED IRON CHELATORS 1,*

In the skin of albino hairless mice (Skh:HR-1) there is a basal level of non-heme iron. Chronic exposure of mice to sub-erythemal doses of ultraviolet (UV) B radiation results in an increased skin level of non-heme iron. The iron increase may be the result of a UVB radiation-induced increase in vascular permeability, which we measured in vivo with the dye marker Evans Blue. We also observed greater non-heme iron in sun-exposed vs non-exposed body sites of human skin, suggesting that similar events occur in man. Iron may have a role in skin photodamage by participating in formation of reactive oxygen species. These species have been implicated in skin photodamage. It is known that iron can contribute to oxygen radical production by acting catalytically in the formation of species such as hydroxyl radical. While the basal level of skin iron may be available for catalysis, the elevated iron content of UV-exposed skin increases the potential for iron-catalyzed radical production. Topical application of certain iron chelators to Skh albino hairless mice dramatically delayed the onset of UVB radiation-induced skin photodamage. Non-chelating analogs provided no significant protection.     

REPAIR OF PSORALEN PLUS NEAR ULTRAVIOLET LIGHT DAMAGE IN BACTERIOPHAGES T3 AND T4

Abstract— Repair of T3 and T4 DNA damaged by treatment with 8-methoxypsoralen plus near UV (PNUV) has been investigated. It is shown that the excision repair mechanisms of the host cell can repair a substantial fraction of the psoralen-DNA mono-adducts in T3 DNA, but cannot by themselves repair crosslinks. In contrast neither the excision repair system of the host nor the phage coded v gene endonuclease is involved in the repair of psoralen adducts in T4 DNA. Multiplicity reactivation is effective in the recovery of T4 DNA containing psoralen-DNA mono-adducts, but is ineffective in the recovery of crosslinked phages. Comparisons of the lethality of PNUV treatment and the number of crosslinks induced in T4 DNA show clearly that mono-adducts are lethal to this phage. Both T3 and T4, however, appear to effectively repair many mono-adducts by postreplicational repair.     

PROTECTION AGAINST ULTRAVIOLET B RADIATION-INDUCED EFFECTS IN THE SKIN OF SKH-1 HAIRLESS MICE BY A POLYPHENOLIC FRACTION ISOLATED FROM GREEN TEA

In prior studies we and others have shown that oral feeding of a polyphenolic fraction isolated from green tea (GTP) or water extract of green tea affords protection against ultraviolet B (UVB) radiation-induced carcinogenesis in SKH-1 hairless mice (Wang et al., Carcinogenesis 12, 1527–1530, 1991). It is known that exposure of murine skin to UVB radiation results in cutaneous edema, depletion of the antioxidant-defense system and induction of ornithine decarboxylase (ODC) and cyclooxygenase activities. In this study we assessed the protective effect of GTP on these UVB radiation-caused changes in murine skin. Oral feeding of 0.2% GTP (wt/vol) as the sole source of drinking water for 30 days to SKH-1 hairless mice followed by irradiation with UVB (900 mJ/cm²) resulted in significant protection against UVB radiation-caused cutaneous edema ( P <0.0005) and depletion of the antioxidant-defense system in epidermis ( P <0.01–0.02). The oral feeding of GTP also resulted in significant protection against UVB radiation-caused induction of epidermal ODC ( P <0.005–0.01) and cyclooxygenase activities ( P <0.0001) in a time-dependent manner. Our data indicate that the inhibition of UVB radiation-caused changes in these markers of tumor promotion in murine skin by GTP may be one of the possible mechanisms of chemopreventive effects associated with green tea against UVB-induced tumorigenesis. The results of this study suggest that green tea, specifically polyphenols present therein, may be useful against inflammatory responses associated with the exposure of skin to solar radiation.     

INDUCTION OF DNA STRAND BREAKS IN NORMAL HUMAN FIBROBLASTS EXPOSED TO MONOCHROMATIC ULTRAVIOLET AND VISIBLE WAVELENGTHS IN THE 240–546 nm RANGE

Abstract— The induction of DNA single-strand breaks in normal human fibroblasts exposed to monochromatic wavelengths from 240–546 nm was measured by the alkaline elution assay. The cells were irradiated at 1°C to prevent both repair of induced breaks and formation of enzymatically induced breaks through excision repair. The cultures were also washed with and irradiated while suspended in phosphate buffered saline to prevent the formation of DNA damaging photoproducts from medium components. The action spectrum for DNA strand breakage was found to exhibit one peak at 265 nm, consistent with DNA absorption, and a second peak at 450 nm. The normalized action spectrum in the visible is similar to the normalized absorption spectrum for riboflavin, a known photosensitizing agent, implicating this molecule as the absorbing chromophore.     

CELL DENSITY DEPENDENCE OF ULTRAVIOLET LIGHT ENHANCED REACTIVATION OF Herpes simplex TYPE I AND THE LARGE PLAQUE EFFECT IN C3H/10T1/2 MOUSE FIBROBLASTS

C3H/10T1/2 mouse fibroblasts were grown to different cell densities either by plating at low density and allowing different growth periods, or by plating at a series of increasing densities and allowing the same growth period. These plates were UV irradiated at 7.5 J/m2 or mock irradiated and 24 h later infected with UV-irradiated Herpes simplex type I virus which had been UV irradiated at 50 or 125 J/m2 or mock irradiated. The numbers and sizes of plaques were measured and these data used to calculate the extent of UV-enhanced host cell reactivation, the capacity enhancement, the large plaque effect (LPE) and the small plaque effect (SME). The influence of cell density on these phenomena was similar for both series of density experiments. Ultraviolet-enhanced host cell reactivation could be demonstrated only for cultures of lower density. The capacity of the cells for Herpes simplex type I virus decreased with cell density, but UV irradiated cells showed an increase in capacity with cell density. Plaque sizes decreased in all cases with cell density but the LPE and SPE were not significantly altered. The greatest variation in the above parameters occurred just as the cells were approaching confluence, where most host cell reactivation experiments are carried out. We conclude that the reproducibility of such experiments depends critically on cell density, a dependence which may be relevant to mechanistic interpretations of the UV-dependent phenomena.     

INFLUENCE OF pH AND OXYGEN ON 315 mμ INACTIVATION AND THYMINE DIMERIZATION IN MUTANTS OF BACTERIOPHAGE T4

Abstract— 1. Irradiation with 315 mμ light inactivates phage T4v-x C, and T4v^-x- , and forms thymine dimers in their DNA.
2. Both the rates of inactivation and of thymine dimerization depend upon pH and gaseous environment during irradiation. The U.V. sensitivities are: 1 (pH 7, N₂, 03, 2.2 (pH 3.5, Oz), 3.3 (pH 3–5, N₂; and the corresponding rates of thymine dimerization 1: 2.5: 5.2. The number of thymine dimers per lethal hit observed withT4v-x + are: 5.7 (pH 7, N₂, O₂, 5.4 (pH 3.5, O₂, 10.9 (pH 3.5, N₂); and forT4v-x-: 4.6, 3.4, and 7.1 with the same sequence of conditions.
3. Also the photoreactivable sectors depend upon the environmental conditions at 315 mp inactivation. In T4v-x f this sector amounts to about 50 per cent at pH 7, 18 per cent at pH 3.5, O., and 29 per cent at pH 3.5, N, respectively.
4. The molecular basis of these findings is discussed. It is concluded that, besides thymine dimer, at least one other lethal photoproduct (probably a photoproduct of cytosine) is involved in photoreactivation.     

CORRELATION OF UVC AND UVB CYTOTOXICITY WITH THE INDUCTION OF SPECIFIC PHOTOPRODUCTS IN T-LYMPHOCYTES AND FIBROBLASTS FROM NORMAL HUMAN DONORS

Abstract— By using specific monoclonal antibodies in situ and a computer-assisted image analysis system we have determined the relative induction of cyclobutane dimers, (6–4) photoproducts and Dewar isomers in human mononuclear cells and fibroblasts following irradiation with UVC, broad-spectrum UVB and narrow-spectrum UVB. The lamps produced these lesions in different proportions, with broad-spectrum UVB inducing a greater combined yield of (6–4) photoproducts and Dewar isomers per cyclobutane dimer than UVC or narrow-spectrum UVB. The relative induction ratios of (6–4) photoproducts compared to cyclobutane dimers were 0.15, 0.21 and 0.10 following irradiation with UVC, broad- or narrow-spectrum UVB, respectively. Although Dewar isomers were induced by UVC, their relative rate of formation compared to cyclobutane dimers was significantly greater after irradiation with either broad-spectrum or narrow-spectrum UVB. These values were 0.001, 0.07 and 0.07, respectively. With each lamp source, we have determined the survival of normal human T-lymphocytes and fibroblasts at fiuences, which induce equivalent yields of cyclobutane dimers, (6–4) photoproducts or (6–4) photoproducts plus Dewar isomers. Killing of fibroblasts appears to be associated with (6–4) photoproduct formation, whereas killing of T-lymphocytes seems to be mediated by combined (6–4) plus Dewar yields. These results emphasize the need to study the biological effects of UVB because cellular responses may be different from those following UVC irradiation.     

ENHANCEMENT OF ULTRAVIOLET-DNA REPAIR IN den V GENE TRANSFECTANTS and T4 ENDONUCLEASE V-LIPOSOME RECIPIENTS

The phage T4 denV gene, coding for the pyrimidine-dimer specific T4 endonuclease V, was transfected into human repair-proficient fibroblasts, repair-deficient xeroderma pigmentosum fibroblasts, and into wild type CHO hamster cells. Transfectants maintained denV DNA and expressed denV mRNA. Purified T4 endonuclease V encapsulated in liposomes was also used to treat repair-proficient and -deficient human cells. The denV transfected clones and liposome-treated cells showed increased unscheduled DNA synthesis and enhanced removal of pyrimidine dimers compared to controls. Both denV gene transfection and endonuclease V liposome treatment enhanced post-UV survival in xeroderma pigmentosum cells but had no effect on survival in repair-proficient human or hamster cells. The results demonstrate that an exogenous DNA repair enzyme can correct the DNA repair defect in xeroderma pigmentosum cells and enhance DNA repair in normal cells.     

In vitro DEMONSTRATION OF A FUNDAMENTAL DIFFERENCE IN THE PROLIFERATION OF MURINE and HUMAN BONE MARROW and LYMPHOCYTES FOLLOWING ULTRAVIOLET IRRADIATION: RELEVANCE TO BONE MARROW TRANSPLANTATION

Exposure of rodent allogeneic donor marrow and splenocyte grafts to ultraviolet radiation (UVR) has been shown to permit durable engraftment at doses that abolish graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) and graft rejection. We have compared both murine and human alloreactive and mitogen-induced lymphoid responses and bone marrow proliferation in mixed lymphocyte culture (MLC), phy-tohemagglutinin (PHA)-induced proliferation and colony-forming unit-granulocyte/macrophage (CFU-GM) assays using germicidal UVC (200–290nm), broadband and narrowband UVB (290–320nm) and UVA (320^100 nm) sources. Our data show a wavelength and dose-dependent reduction in lymphoid proliferation in the mouse with CFU-GM survival of50–75% of control at doses required to abolish allogeneic lymphocyte responses for all lamps. In contrast, human lymphocyte responses are more resistant to UVC with CFU-GM proliferation reduced to zero when allostimulation is abolished. Mito-gen-induced lymphoid responses show a similar wavelength-dependent sensitivity. Abolition of response in MLC using UV-irradiated stimulator cells was less sensitive than proliferation with UV-irradiated responder cells at all wavelengths in both species. With all sources, murine CFU-GM proliferation is less susceptible to UVR than human marrow at doses required to abolish lymphoid responses.     

INHIBITION OF UV AND PSORALEN-PLUS-LIGHT MUTAGENESIS IN PHAGE T4 BY GENE 43 ANTIMUTATOR POLYMERASE ALLELES

Abstract— Mutagenesis by UV light or psoralen-plus-light was measured by increases in the reversion of nonsense mutants of phage T4. In the presence of either of two gene 43 antimutator polymerase alleles, ts CB120 or ts CB87, UV-induced reversion was inhibited. Likewise psoralen-plus-light mutagenesis was inhibited when the ts CB120 allele was present. These results imply that the gene 43 DNA polymerase has a role in the formation of mutations from the DNA lesions induced by UV and psoralen-plus-light.     

THE ROLE OF 4-THIOURIDINE IN LETHAL EFFECTS AND IN DNA BACKBONE BREAKAGE CAUSED BY 334 nm ULTRAVIOLET LIGHT IN Escherichia coli

Strains of Escherichia coli that lack 4-thiouridine (⁴Srd) are killed by monochromatic 334 nm UV light (UV) less efficiently than their wild-type parents, which contain ⁴Srd. Oxygen enhancement ratios (OER) at 10% survival are 3.3 for a strain that possesses ⁴Srd, and 2.6 for one that lacks ⁴Srd. Single-strand breaks in DNA caused by 334 nm UV accumulate more than twice as fast in the wild-type strains than in the strains lacking ⁴Srd. The results suggest that ⁴Srd is an important chromophore in some near-UV lethal effects. The results also suggest that the excitation energy from 334 nm UV light may be passed from RNA to DNA, resulting in single-strand breaks.