STUDIES ON THE PHOTO-C4-CYCLO-ADDITION REACTIONS BETWEEN SKIN-PHOTOSENSITIZING FUROCOUMARINS AND NUCLEIC ACIDS*

Abstract— Among the natural or synthetic furocoumarins (psoralens) a group exists which has interesting biological properties, the best known of which is skin-photosensitization. The mechanism of action has remained unclarified for a long time. Furocoumarins lack photooxidative properties; they act by a mechanism that does not require oxygen and are therefore different from photodynamic substances. Photosensitizing furocoumarins when irradiated at 365 nm react with nucleic acids to give a C₄-cyclo-addition to the 5,6-double bond of the pyrimidine bases engaging their 3,4- or 4‵,5‵-double bond. Differences exist in the behaviour of the various furocoumarins; psoralen reacts equally well with native DNA, with denatured DNA and with RNA, whereas bergapten, xanthotoxin and 8-methylpsoralen at room temperature react to a much greater extent with native DNA than with denatured DNA and with RNA. A temperature effect has also been observed. In the case of native DNA an intercalation, occurring in the dark, of furocoumarins between two adjacent base pairs of the double helix is suggested as the first step in the reaction. The photoreaction is not accompanied by breaks in the polynucleotide chain or by conformational modifications of the macromolecule. A parallelism was observed between the order of activity of the substances of this group for photoreaction with native DNA and for skin-photosensitization. Ehrlich ascites tumor cells lose completely their capacity of transmitting the tumor after irradiation in the presence of psoralen, bergapten and xanthotoxin. By hydrolysis of DNA extracted from Ehrlich ascites tumor cells irradiated in the presence of psoralen a photoadduct between psoralen and thymine was isolated.     

PHOTOTOXIC EFFECTS OF FOUR PSORALENS ON L1210 CELLS. THE CORRELATION WITH DNA INTERSTRAND CROSS-LINKING

L1210 mouse leukaemia cells were treated with psoralen [S-methoxy-(XMOP), 4,5′,8-trimethyI-(TMP), 4′-hydroxymethyl-4,5′,8-trimethyl-(HMT) or 4′-amino- methyl-4,5′,8-trimethylpsoralen (AMT)] in combination with long wavelength ultraviolct irradiation (Λ～ 365 nm). In order to investigate the relative photobiological activities of the psoralens, cell viability and DNA-synthesis activity as well as psoralen-DNA photoaddition and DNA interstrand cross-linking were measured after the treatment. In all assays the activity ranking order was found to he: TMP > HMT > AM7 > 8MOP. Furthermore, a direct correlation between phototoxicity, psoralen induced DNA interstrand cross-links and inhibition of DNA synthesis was indicated. Finally, psoralen uptake by the cells appears to be an important determinant for phototoxicity, whereas their DNA photoreactivity does not.     

PHOTOCHEMICAL INTERACTION BETWEEN XANTHYLETINE AND DNA

Abstract— Xanthyletine, a dimethyl-pyranocoumarin having a structural relationship to psoralen, has been studied in connection with its interaction with DNA. In the dark, it forms a weak molecular complex with DNA, which is not of the intercalated type. Under irradiation at 365nm, it is able to bind covalently to DNA, with, however, a much lower rate relative to psoralen. In this photobinding, it behaves as a pure monofunctional reagent, involving only its 3 ,4-double bond of the α-pyronic ring.
3-(α,α-dimethyl-allyl)-xanthyletine, studied for a comparison, showed only a very low photoreactivity with DNA for covalent addition; this is attributed to the presence of a bulky group at position 3 , which prevents almost completely the photoreaction of the 3 ,4-double bond.
Because of the low capacity of photobinding with DNA and the inability to form cross-links, the photobiological effects of xanthyletine are accordingly reduced: Inhibition of DNA and RNA synthesis in Ehrlich ascites tumor cells, killing of E. coli bacterial cells, inactivation of T₂ bacteriophage have been observed. By contrast, it was inactive in producing erythema on guinea pig skin.     

4,4'-DIMETHYLANGELICIN, A MONOFUNCTIONAL FUROCOUMARIN SHOWING HIGH PHOTOSENSITIZING ACTIVITY

Abstract— 4,4'-Dimethylangelicin, a monofunctional furocoumarin, showed a high photosensitizing activity on various biological substrates. The lethal effect on Escherichia coli B₄₈, a wild type strain, and the extent of DNA synthesis inhibition in Ehrlich ascites tumor cells, were not only much more pronounced than that observed with the previously studied monofunctional 4,5'-dimethylangelicin, but even higher than with bifunctional psoralen, 4,4'-Dimethylangelicin, contrary to the other methylangelicin, proved to be phototoxic on guinea pig skin and showed an evident mutagenic effect in E. coli WP₂, but to a much lower extent than psoralen.     

PHOTOBIOLOGICAL ACTIVITY IN YEAST OF DERIVATIVES OF PSORALEN SUBSTITUTED AT THE 3,4 AND/OR THE 4'',5'' REACTION SITE

Abstract— Derivatives of psoralen substituted at the position 3 and/or 5' with various substituents (CN, CO-R or COO-R) have been newly synthesized. Their photobiological reactivity was determined by measuring the effects on survival and the induction of cytoplasmic 'petite' mutations (rho-) in the haploid yeast Saccharomyces cereuisiae after treatment with 365-nm irradiation in the presence of the different compounds. The effects were compared to those of known mono-functional compounds such as angelicin, 3-carbethoxypsoralen and 5,7-dimethoxycoumarin and bi-functional compounds such as psoralen and 8-methoxypsoralen for which the photoaffinity to DNA is well known. The derivative carrying a CN group in position 3 of the psoralen molecule exhibited effects comparable to those of the bi-functional agent 8-methoxypsoralen. Three derivatives substituted at position 3 showed a biological activity comparable to those of the mono-functional agent 3-carbethoxypsoralen. Two compounds substituted at position 5' by COOH or COOCH₃-groups were much less photobiologically active than the corresponding derivatives substituted in position 3. This suggested that the furanic site of the psoralen molecule may be photobiologically more active than the 3,4 site. Four newly synthesized angular derivatives, i.e. furo (2,3 f, g) coumarins, were found to be two to three times less active than angelicin.
At the dose rate of 365-nm irradiation used the measure of survival and rho^- induction per viable cell allowed the classification of some of the compounds as mono- and some as bi-functional agents in analogy to known mono- and bi-functional compounds.     

REVERSIBLE PHOTOCYCLOADDITION OF A 4',5'-DIHYDROPSORALEN DERIVATIVE WITH THYMINE

The photocycloaddition reaction between a 4′,5′-dihydropsoralen derivative and thymine was studied in solution using a synthetic bichromophoric model 8 in which the two rings are associated by a tetramethylene chain. In water this model molecule exhibits intramolecular ring-ring stacking interactions as evidenced by UV and NMR spectroscopies. Irradiation at 365 nm at usual concentrations ( 5.10^?-⁴M) leads exclusively to a regio- and stereo-selective dimerization reaction involving the 3,4 double bonds of the psoralen moities. Extreme dilutions (ca 2.10^?-⁵M) were necessary to observe the intramolecular reaction which results in the exclusive formation of a 3,4 cb-anti adduct. This reaction is completely reversed by irradiation at 254 nm. These results are discussed with regard to the behavior of the homologous models in which the furan part of the psoralen ring is not hydrogenated, These latter compounds also lead exclusively to a 3,4 cis-anti adduct. It appears that saturation of the furan ring increases strongly the quantum yield of the photaddition at 365 nm (0.01 → 0.18) and that the triplet excited state of the 4′,5′-dihydropsoralen is involved in the photoaddition.     

TRIPLET EXCITED STATE OF FUROCOUMARINS: REACTION WITH NUCLEIC ACID BASES AND AMINO ACIDS

Abstract. The triplet-triplet absorption spectra of psoralen, xanthotoxin, angelicin and bergapten have been determined using the technique of pulse radiolysis and laser flash photolysis in benzene and water. The extinction coefficients of the triplet transitions have been measured and used to determine the singlet → triplet intersystem crossing quantum yields for 353 nm excitation. These yields vary considerably in passing from benzene to water as solvent. The highest yields were obtained for psoralen and angelicin in water, being 0.45 and 0.33, respectively. Reaction rate constants of the psoralen and angelicin triplets with various pyrimidine and purine nucleic acid bases and amino acids have been measured. The high reactivities support the suggestion that the photosensitising properties of furocou-marins are mediated by the corresponding furocoumarin triplet states. The similarly high S → T quantum yields, and triplet reactivities with pyrimidines of psoralen and angelicin, also support the suggestion that the observed differences in photosensitising properties of these two psoralens may be due to their differing geometries, which allow psoralen itself to intercalate DNA more easily than angelicin. The efficient reactions also found for psoralen and angelicin triplets with amino acids suggest that such triplets in vivo may also react with these components. Significant damage may thus be caused to protein as well as nucleic acid components of the cell.     

MUTAGENIC AND RECOMBINOGENIC ACTION OF DNA MONOADDUCTS PHOTOINDUCED BY THE BIFUNCTIONAL FUROCOUMARIN 8-METHOXYPSORALEN IN YEAST (Saccharomyces cerevisiae)

Abstract— For the same furocoumarin 8-MOP and the same total number of photoadditions, the genetic activity of DNA monoadducts and a mixture of mono- and biadducts photoinduced by the bifunctional furocoumarin 8-methoxypsoralen (8-MOP) is compared in the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae. In the presence of 8-MOP, 405 nm irradiation induces only monoadducts, whereas 365 nm irradiation induces mono- and biadducts (interstrand cross-links) in DNA. This is shown by heat denaturation-renaturation experiments on calf thymus DNA treated in vitro and by alkaline step elution analysis of DNA from treated yeast cells. For the same photobinding of tritiated 8-MOP to DNA in diploid yeast, about 20 times higher doses are needed with 405 nm than with 365 nm irradiation. Re-irradiation experiments reveal that part of the monoadducts induced by 8-MOP and 405 nm irradiation can be effectively converted into DNA interstrand cross-links by exposures to 365 nm radiation after washing-out of unbound 8-MOP molecules. 8-MOP and 405 nm irradiation induce per lethal hit cytoplasmic "petite" mutations in yeast as efficiently as the monofunctional furocoumarin 3-carbethoxypsoralen (3-CPs) and 365 nm irradiation, both treatments being much more efficient than 8-MOP and 365 nm irradiation. At equal survival, treatments with 8-MOP and 405 nm radiation are clearly less efficient than treatments with 8-MOP and 365 nm radiation for the induction of forward ( CAN *) and reverse ( HIS +) mutations in haploïd yeast and for the induction of mutations ( ILV +) and genetically aberrant colonies including mitotic crossing-over in diploid yeast. The two treatments are equally efficient for the induction of mitotic gene conversion. At equal photobinding of 8-MOP, the monoadducts induced by 405 nm irradiation are found less effective than the mixture of mono-and biadducts induced by 365 nm irradiation for the induction of cell killing, mutations and mitotic recombination.     

4, 4'', 5''-TRIMETHYL-8-AZAPSORALEN, A NEW-PHOTOREACTIVE AND NON-SKIN-PHOTOTOXIC BIFUNCTIONAL BIOISOSTER OF PSORALEN

Photochemical and photobiological properties of a new isoster of psoralen, 4,4',5'-trimethyl-8-azapsoralen (4,4',5'-TMAP), have been studied. This compound shows a high DNA-photobinding rate, higher than that of 8-methoxypsoralen (8-MOP), forming both monoadducts and inter-strand cross-links. The yield of cross-links, however, is markedly lower than that of 8-MOP. Antiproliferative activity of 4,4',5'-TMAP, in terms of DNA synthesis inhibition in Ehrlich ascites tumor cells, is higher than that of 8-MOP. Mutagenic activity on E. coli WP2 R46+ cells appeared similar to or even lower than that of 8-MOP. This new compound applied on depilated guinea pig skin and irradiated with UVA did not show any skin-phototoxicity. On the basis of these properties 4,4',5'-TMAP appears to be a potential photochemotherapeutic agent.     

Photoactivated Psoralens Elicit Defense Genes and Phytoalexin Production in the Pea Plant

In the pea plant ( Pisum sativum ), compounds that intercalate into DNA induce the production of ∼20 major proteins similar to the pattern induced during nonhost disease resistance to the bean fungal pathogen, Fusarium solani f.sp. phaseoli . The pea phytoalexin, pisatin, as well as RNA homologous to several disease-resistance response (DRR) genes accumulate following treatment with these compounds. Psoralen was chosen to characterize this interaction further because it intercalates into DNA and, following irradiation with 365 nm UV light (UV₃₆₅), forms covalent bonds with pyrimidines on either or both strands of DNA. This produces monoadducts or cross-links, respectively. Dose experiments showed that 60 μg/mL 4'-aminomethyl-4,5',8-trimethylpsoralen followed by 18 J/cm² UV₃₆₅ was sufficient to produce an accumulation of pisatin similar to that produced in response to the fungus. Under these inducing conditions, there was an average of 0.19 adducts per kb of pea genomic DNA. The accumulation of pisatin and the RNA of several DRR genes by psoralen required photoactivation, which suggests that covalent binding to DNA was necessary for induction. As the promoters of several putative fungal-induced pea genes contain long stretches of d(AT)_n, which is the preferred psoralen photobinding site, restriction fragments spanning DRR genes were examined after in vivo psoralen treatment. The rate of crosslinking was compared between fungal-induced and noninduced genes using a modified Southern blot analysis. Implications of the induction of the DRR due to psoralen binding are discussed.     

SENSITIVITY OF STRAINS OF ESCHERICHIA COLI DIFFERING IN REPAIR CAPABILITY TO FAR UV,NEAR UV AND VISIBLE RADIATIONS*

Abstract— In stationary phase, strains of Escherichia coli deficient in excision (B/r Her) or recombination repair (K.12 AB2463) were more sensitive than a repair proficient strain (B/r) to monochromatic near-ultraviolet (365 nm) and visible (460 nm) radiations. The relative increase in sensitivity of mutants deficient in excision or recombination repair, in comparision to the wildtype, was less at 365 nm than at 254 nm. However, a strain deficient in both excision and recombination repair (K12 AB2480) showed a large, almost equal, increase in sensitivity over mutants deficient in either excision or recombination repair at 365 nm and 254 nm. All strains tested were highly resistant to 650 nm radiation. Action spectra for lethality of strains B/r and B/r Her in stationary phase reveal small peaks or shoulders in the 330–340, 400–410 and 490–510 nm wavelength ranges. The presence of 5μg/ml acriflavine (an inhibitor of repair) in the plating medium greatly increased the sensitivity of strain B/r to radiation at 254, 365 and 460 nm, while strains E. coli B/r Her and K12 AB2463 were sensitized by small amounts. At each of the wavelengths tested, acriflavine in the plating medium had at most a small effect on E. coli K.12 AB2480. Acriflavine failed to sensitize any strain tested at 650 nm. Evidence supports the interpretation that lesions induced in DNA by 365 nm and 460 nm radiations play the major role in the inactivation of E. coli by these wavelengths. Single-strand breaks (or alkali-labile bonds), but not pyrimidine dimers are candidates for the lethal DNA lesions in uvrA and repair proficient strains. At high fluences lethality may be enhanced by damage to the excision and recombination repair systems.     

THE EFFECT OF PSORALENS AND ANGELICINS ON PROTEINS IN THE PRESENCE OF UV-A IRRADIATION

Abstract— The photobinding to proteins of furocoumarins with linear and angular structure (psoralens and angelicins) has been found to occur at relatively high fluences of UV-A irradiation (66.5 kJm²). The extent of photobinding between serum albumin and the investigated furocoumarins (psoralen, 8-methylpsoralen, 8-methoxypsoralen, angelicin and 4,5'-dimethylangelicin) varies largely with the furocoumarin structure and is correlated with the extent of photodegradation of the same furocoumarins when irradiated alone in aqueous solution. On the other hand, for each furocoumarin, the extent of photobinding varies considerably with different proteins.     

UVA and UVB‐Induced 8‐Methoxypsoralen Photoadducts and a Novel Method for their Detection by Surface‐Enhanced Laser Desorption Ionization Time‐of‐Flight Mass Spectrometry (SELDI‐TOF MS)

UVA‐activated psoralens are used to treat hyperproliferative skin conditions due to their ability to form DNA photoadducts, which impair cellular processes and may lead to cell death. Although UVA (320–400 nm) is more commonly used clinically, studies have shown that UVB (280–320 nm) activation of psoralen can also be effective. However, there has been no characterization of UVB‐induced adduct formation in DNA alone. As psoralen derivatives have a greater extinction coefficient in the UVB region (11 800 cm^?1 M^?1 at 300 nm) compared with the UVA region (2016 cm^?1 M^?1 at 365 nm), a greater extent of adduct formation is expected. SELDI‐TOF, a proteomic technique that combines chromatography with mass spectrometry, was used to detect photoadduct formation in an alternating A–T oligonucleotide. 8‐Methoxypsoralen (8‐MOP) and DNA solutions were irradiated with either UVA or UVB. An adduct peak was obtained with SELDI‐TOF. For UVB‐activated 8‐MOP, the extent of adducts was three times greater than for UVA. HPLC ESI‐MS analysis showed that UVB irradiation yielded high levels of 3,4‐monoadducts (78% of total adducts). UVA was more effective than UVB at conversion of 4′,5′‐monoadducts to crosslinks (17% vs 4%, respectively). This report presents a method for comparing DNA binding efficiencies of interstrand crosslink inducing agents.     

PHOTOINACTIVATION OF ENZYMES BY LINEAR AND ANGULAR FUROCOUMARINS

Abstract Furocoumarins with linear (psoralen, 8-methylpsoralen, 8-methoxypsoralen and 3-carbethox-ypsoralen) and angular molecular structures (angelicin and 4,5'-dimethylangelicin) were found to inactivate enzymes to different extents through UV-A irradiation. Moreover, enzymes with different structures (glutamate dehydrogenase, lysozyme, 6-phosphogluconate dehydrogenase, enolase, thermoly-sine and ribonuclease) are inactivated to different extents by the same furocoumarin. UV-A irradiation produces both covalent incorporation of the furocoumarins into the protein molecule and photodegra-dation of amino acid residues; the latter phenomenon seems to be mainly responsible for the photoinactivation process. A close correlation was found between the capacity of the furocoumarins to photoinactivate enzymes and their capacity to modify free amino acids.
A study of the effects of quenchers of various forms of activated oxygen on the photoinactivation of glutamate dehydrogenase, used as a model enzyme, and psoralen and 8-methylpsoralen as a reference for furocoumarins, showed that singlet oxygen is the species most involved in the photoinactivation process.     

Oxygen-independent inactivation of Haemophilus influenzae transforming DNA by monochromatic radiation: action spectrum, effect of histitine and repair.

Abstract— The action spectrum for the oxygen-independent inactivation of native transforming DNA from Haemophilus influenzae with near-UV radiation revealed a shoulder beginning at 334 and extending to 460 nm. The presence of 0.2 M histidine during irradiation produced a small increase in inactivation at 254, 290 and 313 nm, a large increase at 334 nm and a decrease in inactivation at 365, 405 and 460 nm. Photoreactivation did not reverse the DNA damage produced at pH 7.0 at 334, 365, 405 and 460 nm, but did reactivate the DNA after irradiation at 254, 290 and 313 nm. The inactivation of DNA irradiated at 254, 290 and 313 nm was considerably greater when the transforming ability was assayed in an excision-defective mutant compared with the wild type, although DNA irradiated at 334, 365, 405 and 460 nm showed smaller differences. These results suggest that the oxygen-independent inactivation of H. influenzae DNA at pH 7 by irradiation at 334, 365, 405 and 460 nm is caused by lesions other than pyrimidine dimers.     

MONOFUNCTIONAL ANGULAR FUROCOUMARINS: SEQUENCE SPECIFICITY IN DNA HOTOBINDING OF 6,4,4''-TRIMETHYLANGELICIN and OTHER ANGELICINS

The sequence specificity in the photoreaction (365 nm) of 6,4,4'-trimethylangelicin (TMA) with DNA fragments of the lac I gene of Escherichia coli was studied by using DNA sequencing methodology. In order to map the sites of TMA photoaddition, we took advantage of the (3'-5') exonuclease activity associated with T4 DNA polymerase, which is blocked by bulky adducts, such as furocoumarin photoadducts. A quantitative analysis of the sites of photoaddition is reported. TMA was demonstrated to photoreact with thymine and, to a lower extent, to cytosine. AT-rich sequences and TTT sites in a GC context are the most reactive sites towards TMA whereas TA, AT, CA, AC sites are weaker sites with similar reactivity. Cytosines in alternated CG sequences are also targets of TMA photobinding. We observed a less pronounced sequence specificity of TMA than that of other psoralen derivatives already studied (Sage and Moustacchi, 1987; Boyer et al., 1988). A comparison with other furocoumarins 4,4'-dimethylangelicin (4,4'-DMA), 4'-methylangelicin (4'-MA), angelicin, 4,5',8-trimethylpsoralen (TMP) and 8-methoxypsoralen (8-MOP) is also reported. The role of flanking sequence and consequently of the local conformation at the various sites of photoaddition is discussed. A preferential orientation of the TMA molecule during the intercalation in the dark is suggested. Hot alkali treatment of TMA-modified DNA did not reveal any DNA strand breakage due to photooxidized bases.     

Studies of UV photochemistry of psoralen and angelicin by infrared spectroscopy

The UV homodimerization reaction of psoralen and angelicin in crystalline thin layers has been investigated by means of transmission infrared and infrared ATR (attenuated total reflection) spectroscopy.

In the case of psoralen layers isoorientation was found. Dichroic ratios for several vibrational bands have been obtained. After irradiation, cis-syn photodimers were found for both psoralen and angelicin.     

UV mutagenic photoproducts in Escherichia coli and human cells: a molecular genetics perspective on human skin cancer

Abstract— The relevance of photoproducts produced by 254 nm irradiation to human skin cancer is first critically evaluated. Experiments identifying the mutagenic photoproducts at 254 nm are then described. Mutations are primarily due to the(6–4) photoproduct and the cyclobutane pyrimidine dimer, both in E. coli and in human cells. The(6–4) photoproduct may be more important in E. coli and the cyclobutane dimer more important in mammalian cells. In human cells, mutations occur at the C of a TC, CT, or CC cyclobutane dimer, but not at TT cyclobutane dimers, and also appear to occur, less frequently, at the C of TC and CC(6–4) photoproducts. The local structure of DNA is more important in determining the frequency of mutation at a site than is the photoproduct frequency at that site. The effect of DNA structure appears to be due to site-specific lethality.     

OXYGEN-DEPENDENCE OF NEAR UV (365 NM) LETHALITY AND THE INTERACTION OF NEAR UV AND X-RAYS IN TWO MAMMALIAN CELL LINES

Abstract— The colony-forming ability of Chinese hamster cells (V-79) and HeLa cells has been measured after near-ultraviolet (UV) irradiation, predominantly at 365 nm. To avoid the production of toxic photoproducts, cells were irradiated in an inorganic buffer rather than in tissue culture medium. Under these circumstances near-UV lethality was strongly oxygen-dependent. Both cell lines were approximately 10⁴ times more sensitive to 254 nm irradiation than to 365 nm radiation when irradiated aerobically. Pretreatment with 6 times 10⁵ Jm^-2 365 nm radiation sensitised the HeLa, but not the V-79 cell line to subsequent X-irradiation. Pretreatment of cells with 17 Jm^-2 254 nm radiation, a dose calculated to produce twenty times more pyrimidine dimers than the 365 nm dose, produced only slight sensitisa-tion to X-rays. It is suggested that the sensitisation to X-rays seen in the HeLa cells after 365 nm treatment is not the result of lesions induced in DNA by the near-UV radiation, but may reflect the disruption of DNA-repair systems.     

8-METHOXYPSORALEN-PHOTOINDUCED DNA CROSSLINKS AS DETERMINED IN YEAST BY ALKALINE STEP ELUTION UNDER DIFFERENT REIRRADIATION CONDITIONS. RELATION WITH GENETIC EFFECTS

Abstract— DNA damage induced by 8-methoxypsoralen (8-MOP) plus near UV light (UVA) was analyzed in diploid yeast using the alkaline step elution technique. The presence of 8-MOP and UVA induced DNA interstrand cross-links was revealed by the increase of DNA retained on elution filters as compared to untreated controls. The fraction of DNA retained on filters increased linearly with UVA dose. The amount of cross-links was estimated from the fraction of DNA retained on filters using a dose of -radiation leading to a number of DNA strand breaks at least equivalent to the number of 8-MOP induced photoadducts.
When 8-MOP treated cells were exposed to monochromatic light, 365 nm light induced monoadducts and cross-links whereas 405 nm light induced only monoadducts. When submitting 8-MOP plus 405 nm light treated cells to 365 nm irradiation, after removal of unbound 8-MOP by washing, a portion of 8-MOP plus 405 nm light induced monoadducts was converted into cross-links. The amount of monoadducts transformed into cross-links was dependent on the dose of 365 nm irradiation up to a maximum likely to correspond to the number of suitably positioned furan-side monoadducts that could be converted into biadducts. When 8-MOP plus 365 nm light treated cells were reirradiated with 365 nm light, following the same protocol, the maximum level of cross-linking obtainable in yeast was lower than that obtained with 8-MOP in a 405 nm plus 365 nm reirradiation protocol.
In the presence of 8-MOP single exposures to 405 nm light were found to be only slightly genotoxic. However, when followed by second exposures to 365 nm light, a dose-dependent increase in genetic effects, i.e. mutation and gene conversion, was observed in parallel to the induction of DNA crosslinks. These results stress again the prominent role of DNA cross-links in the genotoxicity of 8-MOP.