Genetic transformation studies. II. Radiation sensitivity of halogen labeled DNA

Excited States of Bromopyrimidines Probed by VUV Photoabsorption Spectroscopy and Theoretical Calculations

We report absolute photoabsorption cross sections for gas-phase 2- and 5-bromopyrimidine in the 3.7-10.8 eV energy range, in a joint theoretical and experimental study. The measurements were carried out using high-resolution vacuum ultraviolet synchrotron radiation, with quantum chemical calculations performed through the nuclear ensemble approach in combination with time-dependent density functional theory, along with additional Franck-Condon Herzberg-Teller calculations for the first absorption band (3.7-4.6 eV). The cross sections of both bromopyrimidines are very similar below 7.3 eV, deviating more substantially from each other at higher energies. In the 7.3-9.0 eV range where the maximum cross-section is found, a single and broad band is observed for 5-bromopyrimidine, while more discernible features appear in the case of 2-bromopyrimidine. Several π* ← π transitions account for the most intense bands, while weaker ones are assigned to transitions involving the nitrogen and bromine lone pairs, the antibonding σ*Br orbital, and the lower-lying Rydberg states. A detailed comparison with the available photo-absorption data of bromobenzene is also reported. We have found significant differences regarding the main absorption band, which is more peaked in bromobenzene, becoming broader and shifting to higher energies in both bromopyrimidines. In addition, there is a significant suppression of vibrational structures and of Rydberg states in the pair of isomers, most noticeably for 2-bromopyrimidine.

Shape resonances in low-energy-electron collisions with halopyrimidines

We report calculated cross sections for elastic collisions of low-energy electrons with halopyrimidines, namely, 2-chloro, 2-bromo, and 5-bromopyrimidine. We employed the Schwinger multichannel method with pseudopotentials to compute the cross sections in the static-exchange and static-exchange plus polarization levels of approximation for energies up to 10 eV. We found four shape resonances for each molecule: three of π* nature localized on the ring and one of σ* nature localized along the carbon-halogen bond. We compared the calculated positions of the resonances with the electron transmission spectroscopy data measured by Modelli et al. [J. Phys. Chem. A 115, 10775 (2011)]. In general the agreement between theory and experiment is good. In particular, our results show the existence of a π* temporary anion state of A2 symmetry for all three halopyrimidines, in agreement with the dissociative electron attachment spectra also reported by Modelli et al. [J. Phys. Chem. A 115, 10775 (2011)].

Use of the HPRT gene and the HAT selection technique in DNA-mediated transformation of mammalian cells: first steps toward developing hybridoma techniques and gene therapy

In 1956, I decided to apply my experience in microbial genetics to developing analogous systems for human cell lines, including the selection of mutants with either a loss or gain of a biochemical function. For instance, mutants resistant to azahypoxanthine showed a loss of the HPRT enzyme (hypoxanthine phosphoribosyl transferase), whereas gain of the same enzyme was accomplished by blocking de novo purine biosynthesis with aminopterin, while supplying hypoxanthine and thymine (HAT selection). Using HAT selection, we: (i) genetically transformed HPRT- mutant cells to HPRT+ wild type by using DNA extracted from HPRT+ cells, and (ii) selected HPRT+ hybrid cells by fusing HPRT- D98/AH2 cells with skin cells. These approaches, which we dubbed in 1962 as a 'first step toward gene therapy', contributed to the later development of (i) cell fusion techniques, (ii) the development of monoclonal antibodies, (iii) routine transformation of mammalian cells with cloned genes, and (iv) methods for creating transgenic organisms.

The lesions produced by ultraviolet light in DNA containing 5-bromouracil

The compound 5-bromouracil (BrU) may be incorporated into DNA in place of its analog thymine. This review is concerned with the photochemical lesions produced by the action of ultraviolet light on such BrU-DNA, and consequent biological effects of such lesions.

Effect of iododeoxyuridine upon conjugation and the fate of transferred deoxyribonucleic acid in Escherichia coli K-12

The incorporation of 5-iododeoxyuridine (IUdR) into Escherichia coli K-12 deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) has been found to decrease significantly the viability of female strains A288 and JC411(r) but to have only minor effect upon their ability to act as conjugational recipients and to perform recombination after conjugation. In contrast, IUdR incorporation into male strain HfrC appears to interfere with both chromosome transfer and genetic recombination. By using IUdR to densitylabel female DNA, and carrying out large-scale matings with (3)H-thymidine-labeled male cells, we examined the fate of transferred DNA. After a 30-min mating, the T6-sensitive male cells were lysed, and the DNA of the merozygotes and remaining female cells was isolated. Initial centrifugation of this DNA in a CsCl gradient showed that the male and female DNA species were associated. The nature of this association of the parental DNA species was determined by formaldehyde denaturation followed by CsCl centrifugation. Denaturation of DNA isolated immediately after T6 lysis gave a peak of radioactivity banding at the density of light single-stranded DNA. However, denaturation of DNA isolated after T6 lysis and dilution of the cells into fresh medium, exhibited peaks of radioactivity banding at positions corresponding to single-stranded, density-labeled DNA. The results indicate that recombination after conjugation in E. coli takes place by a breakage-and-reunion mechanism. The process of recombination can be separated into two stages. In the first stage, the donor and recipient DNA molecules become associated. The second stage consists of the formation of phosphodiester bonds between the donor and recipient segments comprising the recombinant molecule.

Studies on mechanism of repair of ultraviolet-irradiated viral and bacterial DNAin vivo and in vitro

The formation of thymine dimers [Formula: see text] from adjacent intrastrand thymines by ultraviolet (UV) irradiation in DNA was studied under different conditions. When thymine-2-C14DNA was exposed in quartz tubes to 0.5 × 106 ergs/mm2ultraviolet irradiation, two photoproducts were formed: "a" + [Formula: see text]. The concentration formed in dry DNA was only about [Formula: see text] of that formed in wet DNA.The survival of T1phage in the dark in the resistant (uvr+) and the sensitive (uvr−) mutants of E. coli K-12 after UV irradiation of the phage in the wet and dry state is markedly dependent on the state of the phage during irradiation. Survival of T1phage, when UV irradiated dry, was the same in the sensitive as in the resistant host cells, over a wide range of UV doses, while a marked difference in sensitivity existed when it was UV irradiated wet. Similar survival was obtained also by photoreactivation. These results correspond with the notion that thymine dimers are involved both in photoreactivation and in dark (host cell) reactivation.Thymine-requiring E. coli K-12 cells were mutated to a radioresistant strain uvr+(AB 2416) and a radiosensitive strain uvr−(AB 2419).Irradiation of cells with a dose of 1000 ergs/mm2, followed by incubation of the cells in the dark in enriched M9 media, stopped by addition of 5% trichloroacetic acid, hydrolysis of the acid-insoluble fraction and the acid-soluble fraction in trifluoroacetic acid at 175 °C, and separation of the products by paper chromatography, showed that the two irradiation products "a" + [Formula: see text], which were formed in the bacterial DNA, are excised from the DNA in the uvr+strain and appear in the acid-soluble fraction. No such excision occurred upon incubation of the radiosensitive strain uvr−.Incubation of the cells under light showed that photoreactivation prevails in the radiosensitive strain, i.e. disappearance of "a" + [Formula: see text] from the DNA, without their appearance in the acid-soluble fraction, while dark reactivation prevailed in the uvr+strain, a result that indicates a stronger affinity of the dark reactivating system to UV-irradiated DNA. Cell extracts prepared by breaking the cells in a French press in Tris buffer, pH 7.5, plus 10−3 M Mg++plus 10−3 M mercapto-ethanol showed a similar mechanism; the two irradiation products were excised from DNA by a uvr+cell extract and not by a uvr−cell extract. Extract of uvr+cells brought about excision of photoproducts from DNA of the uvr−cell extract.The results suggest that an enzyme, capable of excising thymine dimers, is present in the radioresistant cell as part of the system of repair of DNA from UV irradiation, and its mechanism is demonstrated, both in vivo and in vitro.