UV-INDUCED ALKALINE LABILE DNA DAMAGE IN HUMAN ADENOVIRUS AND ITS REPAIR AFTER INFECTION OF HUMAN CELLS

Abstract— UV-induced alkaline labile viral DNA damage was detected following irradiation of adenovirus type 2 and found to be repaired following the infection of human KB cells. Human adenovirus type 2 was irradiated with various doses of UV and subsequently used to infect human KB cells in tissue culture at approximately 2 × 10³ particles per cell. Before, and at various times after infection, the viral DNA was examined on alkaline sucrose gradients. Irradiated free virus DNA showed a dose dependent decrease in molecular weight compared to unirradiated virus DNA, indicating the presence of UV-induced alkaline labile lesions. Furthermore, an increase in the molecular weight of the irradiated virus DNA was found after infection indicating that alkaline labile lesions were removed from the viral DNA by a host mediated repair mechanism. After infection, the molecular weight of the irradiated virus DNA reached a value similar to that of unirradiated virus DNA for all the UV doses studied.     

TIME COURSE OF PHOTOREACTIVATION OF UV-INDUCED CHROMOSOMAL ABERRATIONS AND LETHAL DAMAGE IN INTERPHASE XENOPUS CELLS

Abstract— Sets of G1, S, and G2 phase Xenopus cells were exposed to 15.0 Jm⁻² UV and their ability to photoreactivate the induced cell killing (loss of colony forming ability) and chromosomal aberrations was determined as a function of time following the UV exposure. Most of the lesions induced in G1 cells that lead to cell death were converted to a non-photoreactivable state before the cells entered the S phase, while lesions leading to chromosomal aberrations were converted to a non-photoreactivable state as the cells entered the S phase. In S phase cells the UV-induced lesions leading to aberrations appeared to be converted to a non-photoreactivable state at a much faster rate than those leading to cell death. A significant fraction of the lesions induced in G2 cells, that lead to cell death, were converted to a non-photoreactivable state before the progeny of the exposed cells reached the next succeeding S phase. Few, if any, lesions were induced in G2 cells that were expressed as aberrations at the first mitosis following exposure. Some of the lesions induced in the G2 cells led to aberrations that were observable in the progeny that progressed to the second mitosis following exposure. These lesions were converted to a non-photoreactivable state as the progeny of the exposed G2 cells progressed through the first S phase following exposure. These results suggest that the intracellular mechanism which expresses photoreactivable UV-induced lesions as cell death is not identical to the mechanism which expresses such lesions as chromosomal aberrations, and the two mechanisms operate with different efficiencies in different phases of the cell cycle.     

WAVELENGTH DEPENDENCE AND KINETICS OF UV-INDUCED FREE RADICAL FORMATION IN THE HUMAN CORNEA AND LENS

Abstract— The wavelength dependence of free radical formation in the human lens and cornea was obtained in the ultraviolet-visible (UV-VIS) range with electron paramagnetic resonance. The spectral feature of having their maxima close to 290 nm, negligible intensity above 320 nm, and appreciable intensity toward 260 nm is common to both of these tissues.
The kinetics of free radical formation in the lens and cornea was interpreted in terms of a two component exponential function with characteristic rate constants k _l and k ₂, the latter of which has the same value for both the lens and cornea.     

SUBCELLULAR DISTRIBUTION OF HYPERICIN IN HUMAN CANCER CELLS

Confocal laser microspectrofluorometric measurements on human T47D mammary tumor cells have been performed to assess the intracellular distribution of hypericin within the various cell compartments: cytoplasmic membrane, cytoplasm and nucleus. Confocal fluorescence measurements obtained from microvolumes (? 1 μm³) located within the three sites of interest show that, while being primarily located in the cell membrane and cytoplasm after a short-term incubation in a 10^?6M hypericin-containing culture medium, hypericin actually reaches the inside of the cell nucleus after a long-term incubation (210 min). Moreover, owing to the relative fluorescence quantum yields of hypericin determined in vitro when the molecule interacts with DNA, membrane and protein model systems, it is assumed that there is a significant accumulation of the drug into the cell nucleus. Consequently, the nucleus has to be considered as a possible target for the toxic action of hypericin.     

INHERITANCE OF PHOTOREACTIVATING ENZYME DEFICIENCIES IN HUMAN CELLS

Abstract— Cells from patients with xeroderma pigmentosum contain lowered levels of photoreactivating enzyme. We have examined the photoreactivating enzyme levels in cells from members of a family with three xeroderma children, one normal child and normal parents; the enzyme levels are consistent with a simple pattern of inheritance in which individuals with the normal enzyme level are PP , those with intermediate levels are PP , and those with very low enzyme levels are pp. We tested this hypothesis by examining enzyme levels in parent-xeroderma child pairs in which the child possessed very low enzyme levels ( pp ). In all cases, the parents contained intermediate levels of enzyme ( Pp ). These results support the hypothesis of a simple pattern of inheritance of photoreactivating enzyme in humans.     

DIFFERENTIAL EFFECTS OF A DNA-SYNTHESIS MUTATION ON UV-INDUCED MUTATION YIELDS IN VEGETATIVE CELLS AND SPORES OF BACILLUS SUBTILIS

Abstract— The absorption and emission properties of the photochemically produced dipyrimidine adducts are analyzed at 300 and 77K. Those adducts which have a saturated C(5)—C(6) bond in the pyrimidin-2,4-dione (Pyr) ring and a pyrimidin-2-one (Pyo) ring behave spectroscopically as a substituted Pyo. However, those consisting of one Pyr and one Pyo moiety can be considered as bichromophoric molecules and their spectral properties can be understood in terms of the relative torsional angle between the two rings. The adduct with the most bulky substituents ortho to the torsional bond bears the largest torsional angle and exhibits relatively independent absorption and emission phenomenon. At the other extreme, those adducts with no substituents at this position exist as almost planar molecules and exhibit considerable overlap of absorption bands as well as room temperature fluorescence which, in certain cases, is characteristic of intramolecular exciplex interaction. Using inter-ring torsional angles of ortho-substituted biphenyl molecules as a basis for comparative calculation, quantitative estimates of the torsional angles in dipyrimidine adducts at 300K have been made.     

ULTRAVIOLET-ENHANCED REACTIVATION OF HERPES VIRUS IN HUMAN TUMOR CELLS

Abstract —Virus-host cell interactions may be investigated by study of the enhancement of infectivity of ultraviolet (UV)-irradiated virus obtained by UV-irradiating the host cell [ultraviolet reactivation (UVR)]. This phenomenon was studied with Herpes simplex virus and normal (embryonic lung) and malignant (HeLa) human cells. Although the lung cells displayed no UVR, both the HeLa cells and a Sendai-virus carrier culture of HeLa cells demonstrated UVR capabilities. This UVR persisted at equal or increased levels for at least 24 h. Since the lung cells and HeLa cells have similar host-cell-reactivation (HCR) abilities, the differences in UVR suggests that UVR and HCR may operate by different mechanisms.     

SITES OF PHOTODYNAMICALLY INDUCED DNA REPAIR IN HUMAN CELLS

Abstract Human REH cells were incubated with the photosensitizers meso -tetra(4-sulfonatophenyl)porphyrin (TSPP=TPPS₄) or meso -tetra(3-hydroxyphenyl)porphyrin (3-THPP). The relatively hydrophilic TSPP was partly found in the cytoplasm and partly in the nuclei, whereas the lipophilic 3-THPP was found apparently in membranes and not inside the nuclei. After illumination, sites of DNA repair were labeled by means of a monoclonal antibody against proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) bound in the nuclei. The amount of bound PCNA in non-S-phase cells was proportional to the light dose. The bound PCNA was homogeneously distributed in the nuclei 0.5 h after photodynamic treatment (PDT) with TSPP. In contrast, for cells given PDT with 3-THPP, the periphery of the nuclei was selectively labeled, indicating that the initial DNA damage was localized close to the sensitizer at the nuclear membrane.     

EFFECTS OF FLUENCE FRACTIONATION ON UV-INDUCED MALIGNANT TRANSFORMATION AND CELL KILLING IN NON-CYCLING PLATEAU PHASE MOUSE CELLS

Plateau phase C3H 10T 1/2 mouse cells were used to measure the response to split fluence UV light irradiation in the absence of any cell cycle effects. It was found that fluence fractionation with up to 24 h between the fluences resulted in no survival enhancement. The frequency of malignant transformation was potentiated 2.5-fold when the time interval between the fluences was greater than 4h. This potentiation of transformation was attributed to plateau phase holding rather than to fluence fractionation per se.     

QUANTITATION OF PYRIMIDINE DIMERS BY IMMUNOSLOT BLOT FOLLOWING SUBLETHAL UV-IRRADIATION OF HUMAN CELLS

An immunoslot blot assay was developed to detect pyrimidine dimers induced in DNA by sublethal doses of UV (254 nm) radiation. Using this assay, one dimer could be detected in 10 megabase DNA using 200 ng or 0.5 megabase DNA using 20 ng irradiated DNA. The level of detection, as measured by dimer specific antibody binding, was proportional to the dose of UV and amount of irradiated DNA used. The repair of pyrimidine dimers was measured in human skin fibroblastic cells in culture following exposure to 0.5 to 5 J m^-2 of 254 nm UV radiation. The half-life of repair was approximately 24, 7 and 6 h in cells exposed to 0.5, 2 and 5 J m^-2 UV radiation, respectively. This immunological approach utilizing irradiated DNA immobilized to nitrocellulose should allow the direct quantitation of dimers following very low levels of irradiation in small biological samples and isolated gene fragments.     

EFFECT OF GROWTH TEMPERATURE ON LIPID COMPOSITION and ULTRAVIOLET SENSITIVITY OF HUMAN CELLS

Human skin fibroblasts were incubated at either 25 or 37 degrees C before UV irradiation. Cells incubated at 25 degrees C were more resistant to near UV radiation than cells grown at 37 degrees C, but cells grown at the lower temperature were more sensitive to 254 nm radiation. Fatty acid analysis of membranes of cells showed that cells incubated at the lower temperature contained significantly higher amounts of linoleic acid (18:2) and linolenic acid (18:3) than cells incubated at 37 degrees C. To determine if this difference in fatty acid content of the membranes was responsible for the UV survival characteristics of cells incubated at different temperatures, cells were enriched with either linoleate or linolenate during a 37 degrees C incubation period. Gas chromatography revealed that cells incorporated the supplied fatty acid. Fatty acid enriched cells were then irradiated with near UV, and survival characteristics were compared to those obtained with cells grown at the lower incubation temperature. The results suggest that the different proportion of fatty acid content of the cells is not the cause of different UV sensitivities of cells grown at 25 degrees C compared to cells grown at 37 degrees C.     

p-AMINOBENZOIC ACID-SUNLAMP SENSITIZATION OF PYRIMIDINE DIMER FORMATION AND TRANSFORMATION IN HUMAN CELLS

Abstract In the presence of sunlamp radiation, p -aminobenzoic acid sensitizes pyrimidine dimer formation in the DNA of human skin fibroblasts. It also sensitizes the sunlamp-induced transformation of such cells to anchorage-independent growth.     

EXCISION OF CYCLOBUTANE DIMERS IN GENOMIC AND EPISOMAL DNA IN HUMAN CELLS

Abstract Direct determination has been made of cyclobutyl pyrimidine dimer induction and excision repair in an episomal SV40 DNA population in vivo . Maintaining SV40-transformed human (GM637) cells in confluent culture results in amplification of a mutant SV40 episome to high copy number. T4 endonuclease V was used to quantify the induction and repair of cyclobutane dimers in the SV40 episome and genomic DNA of the same cells. Differences in both parameters were observed cyclobutane dimers were induced at 1.5–2-fold greater frequency in episomal DNA and excised at a reduced rate compared to genomic DNA in the host cells.     

RESISTANCE OF PIGMENTED HUMAN CELLS TO KILLING BY SUNLIGHT AND OXYGEN RADICALS

Solar irradiation of a panel of human cell lines revealed three phenomena relevant to understanding the biological role of melanin; a heavily melanised melanoma line (MM418) was considerably more resistant to solar killing compared with HeLa and amelanotic melanoma cells of similar size and DNA content; MM418 cells were also resistant to killing by artificial UVB and by hydrogen peroxide generated in situ with extracellular glucose oxidase; and no difference in survival between the cell lines was found using 254 nm UV or gamma radiation. MM418 cells were resistant to sunlight when irradiated as attached monolayers but not when irradiated in suspension. Further studies showed that resistance to solar radiation in MM418 cells was not due to less DNA damage, as judged by inhibition of semiconservative DNA synthesis, or to enhanced constitutive or induced repair determined by reactivation of irradiated adenovirus. These results indicate that melanisation protects human cells from solar UVB in vitro and that the mechanism is associated with protection from hydrogen peroxide-type damage rather than direct shielding of DNA.     

DECREASED HOST CELL REACTIVATION OF UV-IRRADIATED ADENOVIRUS 5 BY FIBROBLASTS FROM COCKAYNE'S SYNDROME PATIENTS

Abstract— Over a period of 5 years, we performed 29 experiments in which survival curves of UV-irradiated adenovirus were determined using fibroblast strains from 10 normal persons and from 7 persons having Cockayne's syndrome. In all of these, the survival of UV-irradiated adenovirus 5 was less when assayed using monolayers of fibroblasts from Cockayne's syndrome patients than from normal persons. Survival curves using normal fibroblasts were, within error, straight lines on a log survival vs. linear fluence plot. Survival curves obtained using Cockayne's syndrome fibroblasts showed 2 components: an initial sensitive component, reflecting the behavior of approx. 75% of the infected cells, followed by a component having normal sensitivity. In the 28 experiments that were considered reliable, 58 curves were done using Cockayne's fibroblasts, 41 using normal human fibroblasts. Although experimental variation was encountered, there was no individual case in which sensitivity as measured using Cockayne's was equal to (or less than) the sensitivity measured using normal fibroblasts.     

RETROVIRUS MEDIATED TRANSFER OF ANTISENSE HUMAN c-myc GENE INTO HUMAN ESOPHAGEAL CANCER CELLS SUPPRESSED CELL PROLIFERATION AND MALIGNANCY

A retroviral vector, called pDAM3, containing the neomycin resistant gene and the antisense human c-myc gene fragment (the third exon and 3'flanking sequence) was constructed. pDAM3 was introduced into amphotropic packaging cells PA317 by the calcium phosphate precipitation method. Several G418-resistant PA317 clones were isolated. The virus titer of these cell lines was determined by infectivity of their cuhure fluid to NIH/3T3 cells. The highest titer obtained was 8×10~5 G418-resistant colony forming units/ml. Clonal and pooled G418-resistant PA317 colonies with high titers were expanded and analyzed by Southern blot for the presence of intact viral sequences. All cell lines were found to harbor the internal sequences of the pDAM3 vector without any rearrangement. Recombinant virus DAM3 infected human esophageal cancer cell line EC8712 efficiently. The DAM3-infected EC8712 (called EC-DAM3) was found to contain the full DAM3 sequence (4.8kb) by Southern blot analysis. Antisense myc RNA expressed in th     

THE EFFECT OF TEMPERATURE AND WAVELENGTH ON PRODUCTION AND PHOTOLYSIS OF A UV-INDUCED PHOTOSENSITIVE DNA LESION WHICH IS NOT REPAIRED IN XERODERMA PIGMENTOSUM VARIANT CELLS

Abstract— Ultraviolet light causes a type of damage to the DNA of human cells that results in a DNA strand break upon subsequent irradiation with wavelengths around 300 nm. This DNA damage disappears from normal human fibroblasts within 5 h, but not from pyrimidine dimer excision repair deficient xeroderma pigmentosum group A cells or from excision proficient xeroderma pigmentosum variant cells. The apparent lack of repair of the ultraviolet light DNA damage described here may contribute to the cancer prone nature of xeroderma pigmentosum variant individuals. These experiments show that the same amount of damage was produced at 0^°C and 37^°C indicating a photodynamic effect and not an enzymatic reaction. The disappearance of the photosensitive lesions from the DNA is probably enzymatic since none of the damage was removed at 0^°C. Both the formation of the lesion and its photolysis by near ultraviolet light were wavelength dependent. An action spectrum for the formation of photosensitive lesions was similar to that for the formation of pyrimidine dimers and(6–4) photoproducts and included wavelengths found in sunlight. The DNA containing the lesions was sensitive to wavelengths from 304 to 340 nm with a maximum at 313 to 317 nm. This wavelength dependence of photolysis is similar to the absorption and photolysis spectra of the pyrimidine(6–4) photoproducts     

ASSESSMENT OF GENOTOXICITY AND MUTAGENICITY OF 1,2-DIOXETANES IN HUMAN CELLS USING A PLASMID SHUTTLE VECTOR

Abstract— 1,2-Dioxetanes are efficient sources of triplet excited carbonyl compounds on thermal decomposition. They cause photochemical and photobiological transformations in the dark. In order to study the genotoxicity and mutagenicity of 1,2-dioxetanes, the replicating shuttle vector pZ189 was damaged with 3,3,4-trimethyl-l,2-dioxetane(TrMD) or 3-hydroxymethyl-3,4,4-trimethyl-l,2-dioxetane (HTMD) in vitro and subsequently transfected into normal human lymphoblasts. We found a dose-dependent increase of genotoxicity (decrease of plasmid survival) and increase of mutation frequency with both dioxetanes. However, TrMD was less mutagenic than HTMD at similar genotoxicity. Sequence analysis of the supF gene revealed more point mutations than deletions. Single base substitutions occurred exclusively at G:C sites: 94.6% of point mutations with TrMD and 100% with HTMD were G:C to T:A and G:C to C:G transversions. These are the typical mutations following 7,8-dihydro-8-oxoguanine (8-oxo-G) formation, the main DNA lesion induced by TrMD and HTMD. Only with TrMD we found 5.4% G:C to A:T transitions, probably reflecting the more pronounced ability of TrMD to form some pyrimidine dimers. Our results indicate that 8-oxo-G is also the most relevant modification in in vivo mutagenesis.