Sister chromatid exchanges

Multiple recombination pathways for sister chromatid exchange in Saccharomyces cerevisiae: role of RAD1 and the RAD52 epistasis group genes

Sister chromatid exchange (SCE) can occur by several recombination mechanisms, including those directly initiated by double-strand breaks (DSBs), such as gap repair and break-induced replication (BIR), and those initiated when DNA polymerases stall, such as template switching. To elucidate SCE recombination mechanisms, we determined whether spontaneous and DNA damage-associated SCE requires specific genes within the RAD52 and RAD3 epistasis groups in Saccharomyces cerevisiae strains containing two his3 fragments, his3-Delta5' and his3-Delta3'::HOcs. SCE frequencies were measured after cells were exposed to UV, X-rays, 4-nitroquinoline 1-oxide (4-NQO) and methyl methanesulfonate (MMS), or when an HO endonuclease-induced DSB was introduced at his3-Delta3'::HOcs. Our data indicate that genes involved in gap repair, such as RAD55, RAD57 and RAD54, are required for DNA damage-associated SCE but not for spontaneous SCE. RAD50 and RAD59, genes required for BIR, are required for X-ray-associated SCE but not for SCE stimulated by HO-induced DSBs. In comparison with wild type, rates of spontaneous SCE are 10-fold lower in rad51 rad1 but not in either rad51 rad50 or rad51 rad59 double mutants. We propose that gap repair mechanisms are important in DNA damage-associated recombination, whereas alternative pathways, including a template switch pathway, play a role in spontaneous SCE.

Characterization of the distribution of sister chromatid exchange frequencies: implications for research design

Mitoses from 21 individuals were examined to characterize the within and between subjects distributions of sister chromatid exchange (SCE) frequencies. The importance of accounting for both the within subjects and between subjects variability in the design and interpretation of research is demonstrated. A computer simulation study was performed to evaluate the estimate of an individual's mean SCE rate. A power analysis was performed using our transformed descriptive data to determine the percentage difference in SCE which could be detected between two groups (with 95% probability) as a function of both the number of mitoses per individual and the number of individuals in each group. Tables are provided as guidelines. Conclusions from our work include: (1) The empirical distribution of SCEs within an individual is best described by a negative binomial distribution; (2) The predominant source of variability in baseline SCE rates is between cells within a given individual rather than between individuals and can be accounted for in experiments by counting adequate numbers of mitoses per individual; and (3) There is a systematic relationship between the mean and SD for SCEs which should be removed prior to hypothesis testing by taking either a logarithmic transformation or square root transformation of the data.

Sister chromatid exchanges induced by two radiosensitizing platinum compounds (cis-dichloro-bis isopropylamine trans dihydroxy platinum IV (CHIP) and cis platinum metronidazole2Cl2(FLAP)) in CHO cells in vitro

Sister chromatid exchange (SCE) induction by two radiosensitizing platinum compounds (cis-dichloro-bis isopropylamine trans dihydroxy platinum IV (CHIP) and cis-platinum metronidazole2 Cl2 (FLAP] was studied in CHO cells in vitro. Both drugs induced SCE in a dose dependent manner. CHIP was a much more potent inducer of SCE than FLAP and produced almost 4 times as many SCE as FLAP at equimolar concentrations and twice as many at equitoxic dosage. Induction of SCE by a component of the FLAP molecule--metronidazole--was also examined. It did not cause any increase of SCE frequency over the control level when applied at 10 times the highest concentration of FLAP which was used.

Effect of temperature variation on sister chromatid exchange frequency in cultured human lymphocytes

The effect of temperature variation on sister chromatid exchange (SCE) frequencies in human lymphocytes was studied. An increase as well as decrease in incubation temperature of cells leads to a higher frequency of sister chromatid exchanges than in cultures grown at 37 degrees C. In addition, it was observed that mitotic index and cell cycle duration were affected by low temperature.