THE MASKING MODEL: A POSSIBLE EXPLANATION FOR VARIOUS EFFECTS OF NEAR-UV RADIATION

Abstract— A general model is proposed to explain certain phenomena observed upon the near-UV irradiation of biological materials. The model states that the ratio of two action spectra (e.g. in the presence or absence of histidine) does not accurately portray the absorption spectrum of the underlying chromophore. Rather, such a ratio is dictated by the relative amounts of two photoproducts. Both photoproducts are induced most efficiently at or below 300 nm. One photoproduct, sensitive to the presence of the variable agent (e.g. histidine), has a broader production spectrum than the other, which is induced independently of the variable agent. The first photoproduct is quantitatively more important at shorter wavelengths while the second dominates at longer wavelengths. An equation has been derived which defines the model in mathematical terms. Such a model might explain: (1) increased phage and bacterial inactivation in the presence of sublethal hydrogen peroxide concentrations; (2) the discrepancy between the inactivation action spectrum and absorption spectrum of psoralen; (3) histidine protection of transforming DNA inactivation; (4) phage T7 inactivation; (5) bacterial inactivation under anoxic conditions; (6) inactivation of DNA repair enzymes; and (7) photomutagenesis at low fiuence rates.     

INHIBITION OF DNA SYNTHESIS BY PSORALEN-INDUCED LESIONS IN XERODERMA PIGMENTOSUM AND FANCONI''S ANEMIA FIBROBLASTS

Abstract— Exposure of human cells to psoralens and near-UV light produces a mixture of monoadducts and crosslinks in DNA, which inhibit DNA synthesis by blocking replicon initiation and chain elongation. 8-Methoxypsoralen (8-MOP) has a greater effect than angelicin in normal, xeroderma pigmentosum, and Fanconi's anemia cells. Recovery of DNA synthesis is not detectable up to 8 h after exposure. The average distance between lesions that block replication in individual replicons was measured by means of bromodeoxyuridine photolysis. After exposure to 10 μg/mℓ of 8-MOP and 7500 J/m² of near-UV light, blocks were formed every 20 μm. Replicon initiation was inhibited by exposure to near-UV light alone in normal and xeroderma pigmentosum. Exposure to low concentrations of angelicin or 8-MOP plus near-UV light inhibited replicon initiation in normal and Fanconi's anemia cells, but not in xeroderma pigmentosum cells. Inhibition of initiation was not obvious after treatment with high concentrations of 8-MOP or angelicin because of the dominant effect of crosslinks in blocking chain elongation.     

ACTION SPECTRA AND CHROMOPHORES FOR LETHAL PHOTOSENSITIZATION OF Candida albicans BY DNA MONOADDUCTS FORMED BY 8-METHOXYPSORALEN AND MONOFUNCTIONAL FUROCOUMARINS

The red-shift of furocoumarin action spectra, compared with their absorption spectra, has been investigated. An action spectrum for 8-methoxypsoralen (8-MOP) monoadduct formation in the yeast Candida albicans has been determined. The yeast cells were initially exposed to sublethal doses of monochromatic UVA at different wavelengths. Monoadduct formation was monitored by growth inhibition induced, after washing out any unbound 8-MOP, by re-irradiation with a constant second (non-lethal) dose of 330 nm radiation. A comparison between this action spectrum and the absorption spectrum of the dark complex of 8-MOP and DNA was made. In addition, the action spectra of monoadduct formation of five monofunctional compounds including a coumarin derivative have been determined. These action spectra were compared with their respective DNA dark complex absorption spectra. In general, the peaks of the furocoumarin DNA dark complexes show a red-shift when compared with the free furocoumarin molecule and the action spectra show peaks which correspond with the peaks of the dark complexes. Such data indicate that the DNA dark complex is the chromophore for growth inhibition in yeast rather than the free furocoumarin. The similarity of the 8-MOP monoadduct formation action spectrum and 8-MOP action spectra suggests that spectral dependence for the photobiological effects (including the red-shift) is dependent on monoadduct formation rather than, as previously suggested by several authors, crosslink formation. The action spectrum for the coumarin derivative 4-methyl N-ethylpyrrolo (3,2-g) coumarin (PCNEt) correlated well with the free molecule absorption spectrum rather than DNA dark complex indicating that the free molecule is the chromophore.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Action spectrum and quantum yield for the photoinactivation of mnemiopsin, a bioluminescent photoprotein from the Ctenophore mnemiopsis SP.

Abstract— Ctenophores are bioluminescent marine invertebrates closely related to the coelenterates. The isolated bioluminescent systems of the ctenophores Mnemiopsis and Beroë and the hydrozoan jellyfish Aequorea are protein-luciferin complexes (photoproteins) which flash upon the addition of Ca²⁺ ions. The photoprotein mnemiopsin has an oxygen-independent quantum yield for photoinactivation of bioluminescence as high as 0.5, placing it among the most light-sensitive proteins known. We have measured the action spectrum for this photoinactivation at 107 narrow (3.4 nm) wavelength bands between 230 nm and 570 nm, covering a range of four decade units in the action. The action spectrum in the visible region is identical with the absorption spectrum of native photoprotein, implicating bound luciferin. The UV action spectrum implies that absorption by aromatic amino acid residues also leads to extremely efficient photoinactivation. Although photoinactivation is a rapid first-order reaction, destruction of the luciferin is a slower, multiple-order process. Therefore, protein-bound luciferin is not the ultimate target of the photoinactivation. Absorption of light results in the dissociation of “active oxygen” from the photoprotein. Therefore, the ctenophore photoprotein is a precharged enzyme already containing bound luciferin and oxygen.     

REPAIR OF NEAR (365 nm)- AND FAR (254 nm)-UV DAMAGE TO BACTERIOPHAGE OF ESCHERICHIA COLI

Abstract: Intact bacteriophage have been irradiated at 365 nm or at 254 nm and then analysed for DNA photoproducts or injected into their bacterial host to test susceptibility of the damage to both phage and host-cell mediated repair systems. Both thymine dimers and single-strand breaks are induced in the phage DNA by 365 nm radiation. The dimers appear to be the major lethal lesion (approximately 2 dimers per lethal event) in both repair deficient bacteriophage T4 and bacteriophage λ. after irradiation with either 254 nm or 365 nm radiation. Damage induced in T4 by either wavelength is equally susceptible to x -gene reactivation (repair sector approximately 0.5). v -gene reactivation acts on a larger fraction of the near-UV damage (repair sector of 0.82 at 365 nm as against 0.66 at 254 nm). The host-cell mediated photoreactivation system is only slightly less effective for near-UV damage but host-cell reactivation (as measured by comparing survival of phage λ. on a uvr⁺ and a uvr^- host) is effective against a far smaller sector of near-UV damage (0.35) than far-UV damage (0.85). Weigle-reactivation (far-UV induced) of near-UV damage to phage λ is not observed. The results suggest that unless the near-UV damaged phage DNA is repaired immediately after injection. the lesions rapidly lose their susceptibility to repair with a consequent loss of activity of the phage particles.     

INACTIVATION OF WILD-TYPE AND rad MUTANT Caenorhabditis elegans BY 8-METHOXYPSORALEN AND NEAR ULTRAVIOLET RADIATION

Survival of wild-type and four radiation-sensitive (rad) mutants of the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans was determined after near-UV irradiation in the presence of 8-methoxypsoralen (8-MOP). Three sets of inactivation profiles were generated for each strain by irradiating synchronous populations of either early embryos, late embryos or first-stage larvae (L1s). Late embryos were consistently the most sensitive. Curiously, none of the four rad mutants were even moderately hypersensitive. Split-dose experiments indicated that DNA-DNA crosslinks were primarily responsible for lethality. Crosslink induction and repair were determined using two different assays. In both cases, little if any repair was observed in wild-type. This lack of repair thus explains why the rad mutants were not hypersensitive to 8-MOP photoinactivation. Since early embryos undergo extensive cell cycling, their resistance to 8-MOP photoinactivation suggests that replication is highly refractory to both monoadducts and crosslinks, as has been demonstrated previously for UV radiation-induced photoproducts (Hartman et al., 1991, Mutat. Res., 255, pp. 163-173).     

Decreased survival of UV-irradiated Staphylococcus aureus in the presence of 8-methoxypsoralen in the post-irradiation plating medium

For Staphylococcus aureus, the presence of 8-methoxypsoralen (8-MOP) in the post-irradiation plating medium increased the lethal effect of far-UV light (FUV; approximately 254 nm) and of 8-MOP plus near-UV light (8-MOP+NUV; approximately 365 nm), an effect similar to that caused by acriflavine which inhibits DNA repair. In the repair-proficient strain, the presence of 8-MOP in the plating medium was almost as effective in inhibiting the repair of damage caused by FUV as that caused by 8-MOP photoadditions. Survival data obtained with Rec(-)-like and Uvr(-)-like strains suggest that 8-MOP in the plating medium, although possibly inhibiting recombination repair, was much more effective in inhibiting excision repair of FUV damage. Regarding 8-MOP+NUV treatment, 8-MOP in the plating medium had a lesser effect in the repair-deficient strains, differing from that observed after FUV treatment, which is consistent with the notion that different types of damage are caused by the two treatments.     

KINETICS OF 4-THIOURIDYLATE-SENSITIZED PHOTOINACTIVATION OF RIBONUCLEASE A

Abstract —An action spectrum for the inactivation of ribonuclease A photosensitized with 4-thiouridylic acid follows the shape of the absorption spectrum of an RNase-thiouridylate complex or of the unbound nucleotide. The quantum yield is 3.3 times 10^-3. Statistical analysis of the data suggests that only the bound nucleotide participates in the photoinactivation. An Arrhenius plot for the first-order rate constants of inactivation gives a straight line in the range 0–40C and an apparent activation energy of photoinactivation of 5.7 kcal/mol. The 4-thiouridylate-sensitized photoinactivation of ribonuclease A is regarded as a kind of photodynamic action in which the substrate analogue plays the role of photosensitizer.     

LEAKAGE OF 86Rb+ AFTER ULTRAVIOLET IRRADIATION OF Escherichia coli K-12

Abstract— Stationary phase cultures of a DNA repair proficient Escherichia coli K-12 strain showed a release of intracellular material as assessed by three different methods (260 nm absorption; [methyl-³H]thymidine leakage and ⁸⁶Rb⁺ leakage) after broad-band (Black-Light Blue) near-UV radiation but not after far-UV (254 nm) radiation. As a control response for membrane damage to cells, this leakage of intracellular material was also determined by each method after mild-heat (52°C) treatment of E. coli K-12. An action spectrum for the release of ⁸⁶Rb⁺ from E. coli K-12 after irradiation with monochromatic wavelengths, from 254 to 405 nm, is also presented. The action spectrum for lethality (F₃₇ values) obtained for this strain, shows that leakage of ⁸⁶Rb⁺ occurs at fluences equivalent to or slightly less than fluences causing inactivation at wavelengths above 305 nm. In contrast, at wavelengths below 305 nm, leakage of ⁸⁶Rb⁺ from irradiated cells can be induced but only at fluences significantly greater than was required to cause cell inactivation. These results indicate, therefore, that near-UV radiation can induce a damaging effect on the cell's permeability barrier which may be significant in causing the death of the cell, whereas the effect is not significant in causing the death of cells by far-UV radiation where DNA damage is known to be the main cause of lethality.     

PHOTOREACTIVATING ENZYME FROM Streptomyces griseus—VI. ACTION SPECTRUM AND KINETICS OF PHOTOREACTIVATION

Abstract— A high resolution action spectrum for photoreactivation was determined using purified photoreactivating enzyme from Streptomyces griseus. Conversion of pyrimidine dimers in UV-irradiated DNA, the substrate for photoreactivating enzyme, was measured with a Haemophilus influenzae transformation assay. A high similarity was found between action spectrum (max. at 445 nm) and the long wavelength absorption band (max. at 443 nm)of photoreactivating enzyme. In addition to the400–470 nm region considerable photoreactivation was found with wavelengths between 280 and 320 nm. No evidence was obtained for the presence of nonenzymatic photoreactivation. Comparison of in vitro and in vivo action spectra revealed that the sharp peak at 313 nm found in vivo is probably the result of counteracting photoreactivation and inactivation effects. Comparison of the action spectrum with the absorption spectrum of 8-hydroxy-10-methyl-5-deazaisoalloxazine in an aprotic dipolar solvent (which serves as a model for the 8-hydroxy-5-deazaflavin chromophore in photoreactivating enzyme) indicates the possible presence of other chromophore(s) involved in the photorepair process. From kinetic measurements and flash experiments values were obtained for the rate constants of the photoreactivation reaction. The quantum yield of photoreactivation was estimated to be approximately 1.     

ACTION SPECTRA FOR LETHALITY IN RECOMBINATION-LESS STRAINS OF SALMONELLA TYPHIMURIUM AND ESCHERICHIA COLI*

Abstract— Action spectra for lethality of both stationary and exponentially growing cells of recombinationless (recA) mutants of Salmonella typhimurium and Escherichia coli were obtained. Maximum sensitivity was observed at 260nm which corresponds to the maximum absorbance of DNA. However, a shoulder occurred in the 280–300 nm range that departed significantly from the absorption spectrum of DNA. At wavelengths longer than 320nm, the shapes of inactivation curves departed significantly from those at wavelengths shorter than 320nm and survival curves at wavelengths longer than 320nm had a large shoulder. A small peak or shoulder occurred in the 330–340nm region of the action spectra. The special sensitivity of recA mutants to broad spectrum near-UV radiation may be due to synergistic effects of different wavelengths. Parallels between the inactivation of recA mutants and the induction of a photoproduct of l -tryptophan toxic for recA mutants (now known to be H₂O₂) suggest that H₂O₂ photoproduct from endogenous tryptophan may be involved in the high sensitivity of these strains to broad spectrum near-UV radiation.     

REPAIR OF 313-NM INDUCED LESIONS AND PHOTOPROTECTION IN YEAST CANDIDA GUILLIERMONDII

Abstract. The present communication is concerned with the effects of near-UV radiation (300–380 nm) on yeast Candida guilliermondii. It was found that certain doses of 313 nm irradiation caused inactivation of the yeast which was exhibited in a way different from the lethal action of far-UV radiation. It was also found that the cells inactivated by 313 nm are capable of recovering vitality, if incubated for some time in a non-nutrient medium. The yeast inactivated by far-UV radiation also proved to be capable of recovering, though to a lesser degree. Both 334 nm radiation and non-lethal doses at 313 nm induced the photoprotective effect against far-UV damage. The effect was exhibited if there was a certain time interval (2–4 h) between the exposures to photoprotective light and subsequent far-UV radiation. Within this time interval the extent of photoprotection was dependent on temperature.     

INDUCTION OF DNA-PROTEIN CROSSLINKS IN HUMAN CELLS BY ULTRAVIOLET and VISIBLE RADIATIONS: ACTION SPECTRUM

Abstract— DNA-protein crosslinking was induced in cultured human P3 teratocarcinoma cells by irradiation with monochromatic radiation with wavelengths in the range254–434 nm (far-UV, near-UV, and blue light). Wavelength 545 nm green light did not induce these crosslinks, using the method of alkaline elution of the DNA from membrane filters. The action spectrum for the formation of DNA-protein crosslinks revealed two maxima, one in the far-UV spectrum that closely coincided with the relative spectrum of DNA at 254 and 290 nm, and one in the visible light spectrum at 405 nm, which has no counterpart in the DNA spectrum. The primary events for the formation of DNA-protein crosslinks by such long-wavelength radiation probably involve photosensitizers. This dual mechanism for DNA-protein crosslink formation is in strong contrast to the single mechanism for pyrimidine dimer formation in DNA, which apparently has no component in the visible light spectrum.     

THE SUBSTRATE-DEPENDENT PHOTOINACTIVATION OF UROCANASE FROM RAT LIVER

Abstract— Rat liver urocanase was readily inactivated by near-UV light in the presence of the substrate. Irradiation of substrate or enzyme alone was ineffective. The purpose of this study was to examine the conditions which influenced this inactivation and to investigate the mechanism. The urocanate concentration needed for 50% of the maximum inactivation for a 15 min irradiation was 0.09 μ M . Temperatures from 0 to 30°C during irradiation had little influence. Inactivation occurred at -75°C, which indicated a photochemical reaction. The pH had little influence on inactivation. Photoinactivation was the same in nitrogen and air. Dialysis experiments showed that unbound small molecules were probably not involved. Inactivated enzyme did not inhibit active enzyme. Chelators, reducing agents, and pyridoxal phosphate did not affect the inactivation. Visible light was not effective. An action spectrum was established with the aid of a monochromator. The action spectrum had a peak at 280 nm and a shoulder extending from 300 to 340 nm which rules out flavins. pyridoxal phosphate, a simple protein, and free urocanate as the chromophore. The results suggest that this photochemical process is not photodynamic action. It appears that only substrate and enzyme are needed for this photoinactivation. The enzyme-substrate complex may be the chromophore.     

HERPES VIRUS PRODUCTION IN MONKEY KIDNEY AND HUMAN SKIN CELLS TREATED WITH ANGELICIN OR 8-METHOXYPSORALEN PLUS 365 nm LIGHT

Abstract—At an cquimolar concentration of 50 μM the bifunctional furocoumarin, 8-methoxypsoralen (8-MOP), is about 36 times more efficient in inhibiting the colony forming ability of CV-I monkey kidney cells than the monofunctional furocoumarin angelicin. In contrast 8-MOP is only 7.5 times more efficient than angelicin for the inhibition of herpes simplex virus (HSV) production in CV-1 cells. This latter factor seems to reflect differences in photoreactivity of the two compounds with host cell DNA.
A substantial recovery of HSV production was seen when cells were infected at different time intervals after treatment with angelicin-plus-light, whereas recovery was very limited after 8-MOP plus light treatment. The recovery process was slow as compared to that observed after UV (254 nm)-irradiation.
The repair capacities of treated normal and xeroderma pigmentosum (group A) skin fibroblasts were estimated by measuring HSV production and unscheduled DNA synthesis. XP-A cells repaired angelicin induced damage less efficiently than did normal cells. Neither cell type showed any repair activity after 8-MOP plus light treatment.     

PHOTOMIMETIC EFFECT OF SEROTONIN ON YEAST CELLS IRRADIATED BY FAR-UV RADIATION

Abstract— The effect of serotonin on the survival of far-UV irradiated cells of the yeast Candida guillier-mondii was studied. Serotonin was found to have a photomimetic property. Preincubation of cells with serotonin results in protection against far-UV inactivation, whereas the post-radiation treatment with serotonin causes a potentiation of far-UV lethality. Both effects are similar to those produced by near-UV (334 nm) radiation. The observations provide support to the idea advanced by us previously that photosynthesized serotonin is the underlying cause of the two effects of near-UV radiation, photo-protection and potentiation of far-UV lethality. Experiments with an excision-deficient strain of the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae suggest that the effect of serotonin is by its binding to DNA.     

Phage T7 in biological UV dose measurement.

An experimental method complete with theoretical considerations is presented for the measurement of different biological UV doses. The method is based on the high sensitivity of phage T7 activity to UV light. A precisely determined T7 inactivation action spectrum is presented over a wide optical range (240-514 nm). Using the T7 spectral sensitivity in relation to the minimal erythema dose (MED) and the effective spectral irradiance from solar radiation for the MED, an example is given to determine the MED value based on the measurement of T7 inactivation for a given case. The advantages and applicability of the method are discussed.     

THE TRIPLET STATE OF 8-METHOXYPSORALEN

Abstract— Transient absorption spectra produced by laser flash photolysis of an aqueous solution of 8-methoxypsoralen (8-MOP) have been studied. The biphotonic production of hydrated electrons and of the radical ions, 8-MOP ⁺ and 8-MOP^- is reported. The hydrated electron was found to react with ground state 8-MOP with k ˜ 3 × 10¹⁰ M ^-1 s^-1. In order to obtain a true triplet-triplet absorption spectrum. contributions from the radical ions were subtracted from the overall transient absorption. In addition, contributions from e^-_aq to the transient spectrum were removed by using N₂O, low laser intensity to minimize photoionization or by measuring the transient O.D. after the electron has decayed. These three methods each produced the same triplet-triplet spectrum which differs in the red region from previously reported spectra.     

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.     

SV40 INDUCTION FROM A MAMMALIAN CELL LINE BY ULTRAVIOLET RADIATION and THE PHOTOSENSITIZERS 8-METHOXYPSORALEN and ANGELICIN

Abstract SV40-transformed weanling Syrian hamster kidney cells were exposed to long wavelength ultraviolet radiation in the presence of 8-methoxypsoralen or angelicin. The number of viruses induced as a result of this treatment was quantitated on CV-1P cells. The results indicate that angelicin, which is generally believed to form only monoadducts, is a potent viral inducing agent even when compared with 8-methoxypsoralen (8-MOP), which forms both monoadducts and crosslinks. At low radiation exposures 8-MOP is more effective than angelicin; as the radiation exposure is increased angelicin is capable of inducing the same peak level of virus expression as was 8-MOP. It appears that the induction of SV40 is a phenomenon possibly related to the repair of monoadducts.