SOS response in mammalian cells

Filling gaps in translesion DNA synthesis in human cells

During DNA replication, forks may encounter unrepaired lesions that hamper DNA synthesis. Cells have universal strategies to promote damage bypass allowing cells to survive. DNA damage tolerance can be performed upon template switch or by specialized DNA polymerases, known as translesion (TLS) polymerases. Human cells count on more than eleven TLS polymerases and this work reviews the functions of some of these enzymes: Rev1, Pol η, Pol ι, Pol κ, Pol θ and Pol ζ. The mechanisms of damage bypass vary according to the lesion, as well as to the TLS polymerases available, and may occur directly at the fork during replication. Alternatively, the lesion may be skipped, leaving a single-stranded DNA gap that will be replicated later. Details of the participation of these enzymes are revised for the replication of damaged template. TLS polymerases also have functions in other cellular processes. These include involvement in somatic hypermutation in immunoglobulin genes, direct participation in recombination and repair processes, and contributing to replicating noncanonical DNA structures. The importance of DNA damage replication to cell survival is supported by recent discoveries that certain genes encoding TLS polymerases are induced in response to DNA damaging agents, protecting cells from a subsequent challenge to DNA replication. We retrace the findings on these genotoxic (adaptive) responses of human cells and show the common aspects with the SOS responses in bacteria. Paradoxically, although TLS of DNA damage is normally an error prone mechanism, in general it protects from carcinogenesis, as evidenced by increased tumorigenesis in xeroderma pigmentosum variant patients, who are deficient in Pol η. As these TLS polymerases also promote cell survival, they constitute an important mechanism by which cancer cells acquire resistance to genotoxic chemotherapy. Therefore, the TLS polymerases are new potential targets for improving therapy against tumors.

Predominant role of DNA polymerase eta and p53-dependent translesion synthesis in the survival of ultraviolet-irradiated human cells

Genome lesions trigger biological responses that help cells manage damaged DNA, improving cell survival. Pol eta is a translesion synthesis (TLS) polymerase that bypasses lesions that block replicative polymerases, avoiding continued stalling of replication forks, which could lead to cell death. p53 also plays an important role in preventing cell death after ultraviolet (UV) light exposure. Intriguingly, we show that p53 does so by favoring translesion DNA synthesis by pol eta. In fact, the p53-dependent induction of pol eta in normal and DNA repair-deficient XP-C human cells after UV exposure has a protective effect on cell survival after challenging UV exposures, which was absent in p53- and Pol H-silenced cells. Viability increase was associated with improved elongation of nascent DNA, indicating the protective effect was due to more efficient lesion bypass by pol eta. This protection was observed in cells proficient or deficient in nucleotide excision repair, suggesting that, from a cell survival perspective, proper bypass of DNA damage can be as relevant as removal. These results indicate p53 controls the induction of pol eta in DNA damaged human cells, resulting in improved TLS and enhancing cell tolerance to DNA damage, which parallels SOS responses in bacteria.

Nucleotide excision repair: from E. coli to man

Nucleotide excision repair is both a 'wide spectrum' DNA repair pathway and the sole system for repairing bulky damages such as UV lesions or benzo[a]pyrene adducts. The mechanisms of nucleotide excision repair are known in considerable detail in Escherichia coli. Similarly, in the past 5 years important advances have been made towards understanding the biochemical mechanisms of excision repair in humans. The overall strategy of the repair is the same in the two species: damage recognition through a multistep mechanism involving a molecular matchmaker and an ATP-dependent unwinding of the damaged duplex; dual incisions at both sides of the lesion by two different nucleases, the 3' incision being followed by the 5'; removal of the damaged oligomer; resynthesis of the repair patch, whose length matches the gap size. Despite these similarities, the two systems are biochemically different and do not even share structural homology. E. coli excinuclease employs three proteins in contrast to 16/17 polypeptides in man; the excised fragment is longer in man: the procaryotic excinuclease is not able by itself to remove the excised oligomer whereas the human enzyme does. Thus, the excinuclease mode of action is well conserved throughout evolution, but not the biochemical tools: this represents a case of evolutionary convergence.

Use of an infectious Simian virus 40-based shuttle vector to analyse UV-induced mutagenesis in monkey cells

SV40 based shuttle vectors able to be packaged as pseudovirions have been used either as naked DNA or as pseudovirus to analyse the mutation frequency and the UV-induced mutation spectra obtained after transfection or infection of COS7 monkey cells. The frequency of supF spontaneous mutants was similar whatever the state of the vector, indicating that the transfection step is not responsible for the high spontaneous mutation frequency when using shuttle vectors. Nevertheless the UV-induced mutation frequency of the supF gene was higher when transfected DNA was replicated into COS7 cells than when pseudovirus infection was performed. The UV induced mutation spectra was basically similar in both situations but a new hot-spot at nucleotide 110 was obtained after pseudovirus infection. UV-pretreated and control COS7 cells were infected with untreated or UV-damaged pi SVPC7 shuttle virus and the survival and the supF mutation frequency were analysed in the progeny. The survival of UV-damaged pseudovirus replicated in 10 J/m2 UV-pretreated cells was 2-fold higher than in untreated cells. This increase in the survival was accompanied by a slight enhancement in the number of supF mutants.

Transduction with recombinant adeno-associated virus for gene therapy is limited by leading-strand synthesis

Adeno-associated virus is an integrating DNA parvovirus with the potential to be an important vehicle for somatic gene therapy. A potential barrier, however, is the low transduction efficiencies of recombinant adeno-associated virus (rAAV) vectors. We show in this report that adenovirus dramatically enhances rAAV transduction in vitro in a way that is dependent on expression of early region 1 and 4 (E1 and E4, respectively) genes and directly proportional to the appearance of double-stranded replicative forms of the rAAV genome. Expression of the open reading frame 6 protein from E4 in the absence of E1 accomplished a similar but attenuated effect. The helper activity of adenovirus E1 and E4 for rAAV gene transfer was similarly demonstrated in vivo by using murine models of liver- and lung-directed gene therapy. Our data indicate that conversion of a single-stranded rAAV genome to a duplex intermediate limits transduction and usefulness for gene therapy.

Late induction of human DNA ligase I after UV-C irradiation

We have studied the regulation of DNA ligase I gene expression in UV-C irradiated human primary fibroblasts. An increase of approximately 6-fold both in DNA ligase I messenger and activity levels was observed 24 h after UV treatment, when nucleotide excision repair (NER) is no longer operating. DNA ligase I induction is serum-independent and is controlled mainly by the steady-state level of its mRNA. The activation is a function of the UV dose and occurs at lower doses in cells showing UV hypersensitivity. No increase in replicative DNA polymerase alpha activity was found, indicating that UV induction of DNA ligase I occurs through a pathway that differs from the one causing activation of the replication machinery. These data suggest that DNA ligase I induction could be linked to the repair of DNA damage not removed by NER.

Genetic toxicity of 2-acetylaminofluorene, 2-aminofluorene and some of their metabolites and model metabolites

2-Acetylaminofluorene and 2-aminofluorene are among the most intensively studied of all chemical mutagens and carcinogens. Fundamental research findings concerning the metabolism of 2-acetylaminofluorene to electrophilic derivatives, the interaction of these derivatives with DNA, and the carcinogenic and mutagenic responses that are associated with the resulting DNA damage have formed the foundation upon which much of genetic toxicity testing is based. The parent compounds and their proximate and ultimate mutagenic and carcinogenic derivatives have been evaluated in a variety of prokaryotic and eukaryotic assays for mutagenesis and DNA damage. The reactive derivatives are active in virtually all systems, while 2-acetylaminofluorene and 2-aminofluorene are active in most systems that provide adequate metabolic activation. Knowledge of the structures of the DNA adducts formed by 2-acetylaminofluorene and 2-aminofluorene, the effects of the adducts on DNA conformation and synthesis, adduct distribution in tissues, cells and DNA, and adduct repair have been used to develop hypotheses to understand the genotoxic and carcinogenic effects of these compounds. Molecular analysis of mutations produced in cell-free, bacterial, in vitro mammalian, and intact animal systems have recently been used to extend these hypotheses.

Induction of the genes RAD54 and RNR2 by various DNA damaging agents in Saccharomyces cerevisiae

The relationship between the induction of the genes RAD54 and RNR2 and the induction and repair of specific DNA lesions was studied in the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae using Rad54-lacZ and RNR2-lacZ fusion strains. Gene induction was followed by measuring beta-galactosidase activity. At comparable levels of furocoumarin-DNA photoadducts, RAD54 was more effectively induced by bifunctional than by monofunctional furocoumarins indicating that mixtures of monoadducts (MA) and interstrand cross-links (CL) provide a stronger inducing signal than MA. RNR2 induction kinetics were measured in relation to cell growth and survival responses after treatment with the furocoumarins 8-methoxypsoralen (8-MOP), 5-methoxypsoralen (5-MOP), 3-carbethoxypsoralen (3-CPs), 7-methyl-pyrido[3,4-c]psoralen (MePyPs) and 4,4',6-trimethylangelicin (TMA), benzo[a]pyrene (B(a)P and 1,6-dioxapyrene (1,6-DP) plus UVA, 254 nm UV radiation and cobalt-60 gamma-radiation. Induction of RNR2 took place during the DNA repair period before resumption of cell growth and clearly increased with increasing equitoxic dose levels. Treatments with furocoumarin plus 365 nm radiation (UVA) and 254 nm (UV) radiation were effective inducers whereas gene induction was relatively weak after gamma-radiation and absent after the induction of oxidative damage by B(a)P and 1,6-DP and UVA. The results suggest that it is the specific processing of different DNA lesions that determines the potency of the induction signal. Apparently, DNA lesions such as CL, and probably also closely located MA or pyrimidine dimers in opposite DNA strands involving the formation of double-strand breaks as repair intermediates, are most effective inducers.

Herpes virus infection and repair in cells pretreated with gilvocarcin V or merocyanine 540 and radiation

Pretreatment of mammalian cells with certain genotoxic agents decreases the ability of the cell monolayers to support virus plaque formation but enhances repair of UV-irradiated virus. This study was made to determine whether these phenomena extend to pretreatments with light and photosensitizers, including one dye that primarily affects cell membranes. Confluent CV-1 monkey kidney fibroblast monolayers were pretreated with either gilvocarcin V (GV) or merocyanine 540 (MC540) and light of appropriate wavelengths and infected with control or UV-irradiated herpes simplex virus (HSV). GV phototreatment is known to affect cells at the DNA level, and MC540 at the membrane level. UV radiation served as a positive control pretreatment. Phototoxic concentrations of GV and MC540 were determined via the capacity of pretreated cell monolayers to support plaque formation by unirradiated HSV. Parallel monolayer pretreatment and subsequent infection by UV-irradiated HSV demonstrated that both types of phototreatments enhanced virus survival, but the dose responses and time courses were different. The DNA-damaging GV phototreatment mimicked the effect of UV-irradiating the cells and produced delayed enhanced repair of UV-irradiated virus. However, the MC540-phototreatment produced enhancement of virus survival with a bimodal dose response pattern for immediate infection, suggesting a different route for affecting repair of damaged virus.

Evidence for nontargeted mutagenesis in a monkey kidney cell line and analysis of its sequence specificity using a shuttle-vector plasmid

Intact pZ189 DNA was allowed to replicate in monkey kidney vero cells that had been pretreated with N-methyl-N'-nitro-N-nitrosoguanidine (MNNG). The E. coli MBM7070 was transfected with replicated plasmid, and those with mutations in the supF gene were identified. The frequency of mutants that did not contain recognizable changes in the electrophoretic mobility of the plasmid DNA was scored. The frequency of such mutants was 12.2 x 10(-4) (43/35376) and 6.2 x 10(-4) (22/35712) in mutants derived from cells pretreated with 0.2 mumoles/l and 2 mumoles/l MNNG respectively; these values represent an increase of 5.8- and 2.9-fold over the spontaneous mutation frequency of 2.1 x 10(-4) (10/47741) (p < 0.01). Sequence analysis of the supF genes of these mutants showed that 89% (24/27) of base substitutions occurred at G.C base pairs; 59% of the base substitutions (16/27) were transversions, and 41% (11/27) were transitions. The types of base substitutions were predominantly G.C-->T.A and G.C-->A.T. 48% of base substitutions occurred at 6 sites of the supF gene; 4 of these sites consist of 5'-TTNN where N is G or C. Base substitutions never previously reported were found, namely, T-->C at 61, G-->T at 70, G-->T at 99, and G-->C at 103 were found; these have never been reported up to now. In addition, 2 of the 5 frameshifts occurred in the region 99-105 of the supF gene (GGTGGGG), suggesting that this region is a hot spot for nontargeted frameshifts. These results strongly suggest that nontargeted mutagenesis can occur in mammalian cells and shows that the spectrum of mutations induced differs from that of spontaneous and targeted mutations.

Environmental mutagenesis: past and future directions

On the occasion of the 25th anniversary of the Environmental Mutagen Society, this article presents a personal reflection on the development of environmental mutagenesis as a unique scientific discipline. The events following the demonstration of chemical mutagenesis in the 1940s and leading to the formation of the Environmental Mutagen Society in 1969 are reviewed. Scientific progress and regulatory practices in the field of environmental mutagenesis during the twenty-five years since the founding of the Society are discussed, and speculation on the likely future of the field is presented.

Genotoxic effects of sodium arsenite on human cells

The effects of sodium arsenite (SA) were studied either alone or in combination with X-rays in peripheral blood lymphocytes, and with short-wave ultraviolet (UV) radiation in primary human fibroblast culture systems. It was found that SA (i) inhibited the cell cycle progression of phytohaemagglutinin (PHA)-responsive lymphocytes, (ii) induced chromatid-type aberrations and sister-chromatid exchanges (SCEs) as a function of concentration and (iii) potentiated the X-ray- and UV-induced chromosomal damage. Our results suggest that SA interferes with the DNA repair process, presumably by inhibiting the ligase activity. This accounted for an increase in the DNA replication-dependent processes, chromatid aberrations and SCEs and synergistic enhancement of the X-ray- and UV-induced chromosomal damage. This ability of arsenite may be responsible for its comutagenic properties with different types of mutagens and hence its carcinogenicity.

Mutagenicity of a unique apurinic/apyrimidinic site in mammalian cells

Abasic sites are common DNA lesions produced either spontaneously or as a consequence of the action of some genotoxic agent. The mutagenic properties of a unique abasic site replicated in mammalian cells have been studied using a shuttle vector. A plasmid, able to replicate both in mammalian cells and in bacteria, carrying a unique abasic site chemically synthesized has been constructed. After replication in mammalian cells, plasmid DNA was recovered and used to transform bacteria. Mutants were screened without selection pressure by differential hybridization with a labelled oligonucleotide and their DNA was sequenced. A mutation frequency ranging from 1% to 3% was found, depending on the base originally inserted during the vector construction, opposite the abasic site. All the sequenced mutants correspond to single base-pair substitutions targeted at the abasic site. We observed a deficit in guanine incorporation opposite the abasic site, while the three other bases were incorporated with a similar efficiency. The mutational potency of abasic sites was observed without any voluntary preconditioning treatment of mammalian cells in order to induce "SOS" like conditions.

Augmented expression of HSP72 protein in normal human fibroblasts irradiated with ultraviolet light

Normal human fibroblasts synthesized heat shock protein (HSP) 72 constitutively and its expression was augmented 6 hours after UV irradiation. Maximum induction of HSP72 was obtained at 12 hours and HSP72 showed a punctuated distribution in nucleus. While unscheduled DNA synthesis was almost completed 12 hours after UV irradiation, the S phase fraction decreased immediately and recovered after 6 hours. Thus, HSP72 augmentation was occurred coincidentally with the recovery of S phase, and suggested that HSP72 had some function during the recovery of DNA replication inhibited after UV irradiation.

Spontaneous and ultraviolet-induced mutations on a single-stranded shuttle vector transfected into monkey cells

The shuttle vector plasmid PCF3A, carrying the supF target gene, can be transfected into monkey COS7 cells as single-stranded or double-stranded DNA. Single strand-derived plasmid progeny exhibited a 10-fold higher spontaneous mutation frequency than double strand-derived progeny. The location of spontaneous mutations obtained after transfection of the single-stranded vector shared similarities with that for double-stranded vectors. However, the nature of base changes was very different. Single-stranded PCF3A DNA was used to study ultraviolet-induced mutagenesis. An earlier report (Madzak and Sarasin, J. Mol. Biol., 218 (1991) 667-673) showed that single-stranded DNA exhibited a lower survival and a higher mutation frequency than double-stranded DNA after ultraviolet irradiation. In the present report, sequence analysis of mutant plasmids is presented. The use of a single-stranded vector allowed us to show the targeting of mutations at putative lesion sites and to determine the exact nature of the base implicated in each mutation. Frameshift mutations were more frequent after transfection of control or irradiated plasmid as single-stranded DNA than as double-stranded DNA. Multiple mutations, observed at a high frequency in the spontaneous and ultraviolet-induced mutation spectra following single-stranded DNA transfection, could be due to an error-prone polymerisation step acting on a single-stranded template.

Stress response induced by DNA damage leads to specific, delayed and untargeted mutations

Cells of the mouse T-lymphoma line GRSL13 were treated with 8-methoxy-psoralen plus longwave ultraviolet light (PUVA) under conditions where the biological effects are mainly due to non-persistent DNA cross-links (PUVA-CL treatment). Fluctuation analysis showed that PUVA-CL treatment resulted in an enhancement of the mutation rate in the progeny of treated cells, which persisted until the eleventh generation after treatment. Since only 5 cross-links are available to account for 52 mutational events observed in the coding region, about 90% of the induced mutational events must have been untargeted. This was confirmed by molecular analysis of these mutations, which showed that 53% of the point mutations arose at sites which are not a target for psoralens. This supports the hypothesis that stress responses may give rise to untargeted mutagenesis. Further support for this hypothesis is provided by the observation that 8-methoxy-psoralen (8-MOP) or UVA alone (both of which are known to induce many pleiotropic effects) each acted as indirect mutagen by enhancing the mutation rate 2-4 fold in the progeny of treated cells.

Cisplatin-induced imbalances in the pattern of chimeric marker gene expression in HeLa cells

The effects of the antitumor drug cisplatin on gene expression have been measured during transient transfections in HeLa cells. The results indicate a surprising diversity of response. Expression from two promoters is strongly induced, both in non-replicating plasmids and cellular integrants, whereas expression from two other promoters is strongly inhibited. The results suggest that a drug-induced imbalance in gene expression may contribute to the antitumor properties of cisplatin.

Origin of adeno-associated virus DNA replication is a target of carcinogen-inducible DNA amplification

DNA amplification of the helper-dependent parvovirus AAV (adeno-associated virus) can be induced by a variety of genotoxic agents in the absence of coinfecting helper virus. Here we investigated whether the origin of AAV type 2 DNA replication cloned into a plasmid is sufficient to promote replication activity in cells treated by the carcinogen N-methyl-N'-nitro-N-nitrosoguanidine (MNNG). A pUC19-based plasmid, designated pA2Y1, which contains the left terminal repeat sequences (TRs) representing the AAV origin of replication and the p5 and p19 promoter but lacks any functional parvoviral genes is shown to confer replication activity and to allow selective DNA amplification in carcinogen-treated cells. Following transfection of plasmid pA2Y1 or plasmid pUC19 as a control, density labeling by a bromodeoxyuridine and DpnI resistance assay suggested a semi-conservative mode of replication of the AAV origin-containing plasmid. Furthermore, the amount of DpnI-resistant full-length pA2Y1 DNA molecules was increased by MNNG treatment of cells in a dose-dependent manner. In addition, DNA synthesis of plasmid pA2Y1 was studied in vitro. Extracts derived from MNNG-treated CHO-9 and L1210 cells displayed greater synthesis of DpnI-resistant full-length pA2Y1 molecules than did nontreated controls. Experiments with specific enzyme inhibitors suggested that the reaction is largely dependent on DNA polymerase alpha, DNA primase, and DNA topoisomerase I. Furthermore, restriction endonuclease mapping analysis of the in vitro reaction products revealed the occurrence of specific initiation at the AAV origin of DNA replication. Though elongation was not very extensive, extracts from carcinogen-treated cells markedly amplified the AAV origin region. Our results, including electron microscopic examination, suggest that the AAV origin/terminal repeat structure is recognized by the cellular DNA replicative machinery induced or modulated by carcinogen treatment in the absence of parvoviral gene products.

Infection with adeno-associated parvovirus leads to increased sensitivity of mammalian cells to stress

Infection of the SV40-transformed Syrian hamster cells Elona with adeno-associated parvovirus type 5 (AAV-5) affects the cellular stress response. Stress-induced growth delay becomes permanent and this promotes cell death. AAV DNA is replicated in the absence of helper virus. Induction of an incomplete stress response by cycloheximide treatment still results in replication of viral DNA but not in virus-mediated growth arrest. Thus, the reactions that induce AAV DNA replication and that direct growth delay are different and replication of AAV DNA is not sufficient to induce growth arrest and cell death. Additional steps that lead to effects resembling inhibition of protein synthesis are required. The possibility that they may have their origin in the action of AAV rep proteins is discussed.

Amplification of Epstein-Barr virus-based shuttle vectors by ultraviolet light in human cells

In order to approach the mechanism of gene amplification, we have developed a model system in human cells based on the use of episomally-replicating shuttle vectors. Shuttle vectors carrying the replication origin of the Epstein-Barr virus can be stably maintained in human cells. These vectors replicate as an episome with a low copy number. We also constructed hybrid plasmids containing both the EBV and the SV40 replication origins. These molecules are able to replicate episomally either like an EBV vector or like SV40 if the SV40 large T antigen is provided at the same time. UV irradiation of both human adenovirus transformed 293 or SV40-transformed MRC5 host cells leads to vector amplification whatever the type of replication origin used for the episomal maintenance. Our result clearly shows that the EBV latent replication origin (OriP), in the presence of the Epstein-Barr nuclear antigen-1 (EBNA-1) and the SV40 large T antigen, is sensitive to over-replication in UV-irradiated human cells. Since the UV doses were small enough to induce very little damage, if any, on the plasmid sequences, this amplification should be mediated through a cellular factor acting in trans. The interest in using shuttle vectors for this kind of study lays in the easy analysis of the amplified vectors in rescued bacterial colonies. The accuracy of the amplification process can be monitored by studying restriction maps of individual plasmid molecules or more precisely the integrity of a target gene, such as the lacZ' sequence, carried by our vectors.

Induction of selective DNA amplification and morphological cell transformation in Syrian hamster embryo cells

DNA amplification is a frequently observed event in continuous cell lines and in tumors. It is likely that a common mechanism underlies the amplification of specific DNA sequences which confer drug resistance and genes which give a growth advantage to the tumor. To find a correlation between the induction of DNA amplification by chemicals and morphological cell transformation we treated Syrian hamster embryo (SHE) cells with diverse antineoplastic agents of different classes. Analysis of these agents seems to be important since they are potentially carcinogenic and resistance inducing. For the measurement of DNA amplification we established a new system using adeno-associated virus type 2 (AAV)-infected primary SHE cells as target cells and amplification of viral DNA as marker of DNA amplification. Simultaneously we determined morphological cell transformation in SHE cells. Our findings demonstrate that there is only a limited correlation between the induction of AAV DNA amplification and the morphological cell transformation in SHE cells. The newly established system of AAV DNA amplification appears to be a useful tool for the investigation of drug resistance in target cells of choice.

A human cellular sequence implicated in trk oncogene activation is DNA damage inducible

Xeroderma pigmentosum cells, which are deficient in the repair of UV light-induced DNA damage, have been used to clone DNA-damage-inducible transcripts in human cells. The cDNA clone designated pC-5 hybridizes on RNA gel blots to a 1-kilobase transcript, which is moderately abundant in nontreated cells and whose synthesis is enhanced in human cells following UV irradiation or treatment with several other DNA-damaging agents. UV-enhanced transcription of C-5 RNA is transient and occurs at lower fluences and to a greater extent in DNA-repair-deficient than in DNA-repair-proficient cells. Southern blot analysis indicates that the C-5 gene belongs to a multigene family. A cDNA clone containing the complete coding sequence of C-5 was isolated. Sequence analysis revealed that it is homologous to a human cellular sequence encoding the amino-terminal activating sequence of the trk-2h chimeric oncogene [Kozma, S. C., Redmond, S. M. S., Xiao-Chang, F., Saurer, S. M., Groner, B. & Hynes, N. E. (1988) EMBO J. 7, 147-154]. The presence of DNA-damage-responsive sequences at the 5' end of a chimeric oncogene could result in enhanced expression of the oncogene in response to carcinogens.

Inhibition of N-methyl-N'-nitro-N-nitrosoguanidine-induced methotrexate and adriamycin resistance in CHO cells by adeno-associated virus type 2

We studied the effects of helper-dependent parvovirus AAV [adeno-associated virus] type 2 on carcinogen-inducible resistance to methotrexate (MTX) and adriamycin (ADR) in Chinese hamster ovary cells. Both types of drug resistance were monitored by determination of the number of drug-resistant colonies normalized for the respective value of plating efficiency under non-selective conditions. Treatment of cells with N-methyl-N'-nitro-N-nitrosoguanidine (MNNG) drastically enhanced the frequency of resistance to MTX and ADR. By contrast, infection of cells with AAV-2 prior to treatment with MNNG markedly inhibited carcinogen-induced drug resistance. Infection by AAV alone did not exert any effect. Analysis of the dihydrofolate reductase (dhfr) gene copy numbers of individual MTX-resistant clones derived from MNNG-treated and non-treated cultures revealed similar frequencies (60-80%) and amplitudes of dhfr gene amplification (2- to 8-fold) irrespective of prior AAV treatment. Hence, carcinogen-induced enhancement of MTX-resistance could reflect an increase in the frequency of dhfr gene amplification among the survivors of MNNG treatment. On the other hand, inhibition of carcinogen-inducible drug resistance by AAV suggests an interference of the virus with cellular responses to genotoxic stress, thus leading to enhanced cell killing under altered growth conditions. Possible mechanisms responsible for the inhibitory effect of AAV and its relevance in relation to tumor chemotherapy are discussed.

UV-induced DNA damage is an intermediate step in UV-induced expression of human immunodeficiency virus type 1, collagenase, c-fos, and metallothionein

UV irradiation of human and murine cells enhances the transcription of several genes. Here we report on the primary target of relevant UV absorption, on pathways leading to gene activation, and on the elements receiving the UV-induced signal in the human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) long terminal repeat, in the gene coding for collagenase, and in the cellular oncogene fos. In order to induce the expression of genes. UV radiation needs to be absorbed by DNA and to cause DNA damage of the kind that cannot be repaired by cells from patients with xeroderma pigmentosum group A. UV-induced activation of the three genes is mediated by the major enhancer elements (located between nucleotide positions -105 and -79 of HIV-1, between positions -72 and -65 of the collagenase gene, and between positions -320 and -299 of fos). These elements share no apparent sequence motif and bind different trans-acting proteins; a member of the NF kappa B family binds to the HIV-1 enhancer, the heterodimer of Jun and Fos (AP-1) binds to the collagenase enhancer, and the serum response factors p67 and p62 bind to fos. DNA-binding activities of the factors recognizing the HIV-1 and collagenase enhancers are augmented in extracts from UV-treated cells. The increase in activity is due to posttranslational modification. While AP-1 resides in the nucleus and must be modulated there, NF kappa B is activated in the cytoplasm, indicating the existence of a cytoplasmic signal transduction pathway triggered by UV-induced DNA damage. In addition to activation, new synthesis of AP-1 is induced by UV radiation.

Inducible cellular responses to ultraviolet light irradiation and other mediators of DNA damage in mammalian cells

Both naturally occurring and carcinogen-induced tumors display not only point mutations in cellular oncogenes but also more complex changes in cellular oncogenes and other cellular genes. For this and other reasons, it seems likely that DNA damage in mammalian cells can induce alterations in gene expression that may have both short and long term consequences in the target cell. The purpose of this review is to summarize current available information on inducible responses to UV-irradiation and other mediators of DNA damage in mammalian cells, and to provide some working hypotheses. We have divided these responses into three time frames, immediate (0-12 hours), early (12-48) and late (beyond 48 hours). Immediate responses include the action of DNA repair enzymes, some of which are induced as a consequence of DNA damage, and transient inhibition of DNA synthesis. Within the past few years considerable evidence has accumulated that during this immediate period there is increased expression of certain cellular oncogenes, proteases and proteins whose functions remain to be identified. It is of interest that the expression of some of these genes is also induced by certain growth factors, tumor promoters and heat shock. Alterations in gene expression during the subsequent "early" period (12-48 hrs.) have not been studied in detail, but it is during this period that one can detect increased replication of several types of viruses in cells that harbor these viruses. We have examined in detail the induction of asynchronous polyoma DNA replication (APR) in a rat fibroblast cell line carrying integrated copies of this DNA. We have obtained evidence that UV-irradiation of these cells leads to the synthesis of a 40 kd protein, within the first 1-24 hrs after irradiation, that binds to a specific sequence TGACAACA in the regulatory region of polyoma DNA. We suggest that this protein acts together with other proteins to induce APR and that this serves as a useful model for understanding the mechanisms responsible for amplification of cellular genes, a phenomenon often seen in malignant tumors. Finally, we discuss how the events occurring during the immediate and early periods following DNA damage might lead to late effects in the target cell that are stable and contribute to the genotype and phenotype of some of the progeny of these cells that are destined to become tumor cells.

UV-induced DNA damage is an intermediate step in UV-induced expression of human immunodeficiency virus type 1, collagenase, c-fos, and metallothionein

UV irradiation of human and murine cells enhances the transcription of several genes. Here we report on the primary target of relevant UV absorption, on pathways leading to gene activation, and on the elements receiving the UV-induced signal in the human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) long terminal repeat, in the gene coding for collagenase, and in the cellular oncogene fos. In order to induce the expression of genes. UV radiation needs to be absorbed by DNA and to cause DNA damage of the kind that cannot be repaired by cells from patients with xeroderma pigmentosum group A. UV-induced activation of the three genes is mediated by the major enhancer elements (located between nucleotide positions -105 and -79 of HIV-1, between positions -72 and -65 of the collagenase gene, and between positions -320 and -299 of fos). These elements share no apparent sequence motif and bind different trans-acting proteins; a member of the NF kappa B family binds to the HIV-1 enhancer, the heterodimer of Jun and Fos (AP-1) binds to the collagenase enhancer, and the serum response factors p67 and p62 bind to fos. DNA-binding activities of the factors recognizing the HIV-1 and collagenase enhancers are augmented in extracts from UV-treated cells. The increase in activity is due to posttranslational modification. While AP-1 resides in the nucleus and must be modulated there, NF kappa B is activated in the cytoplasm, indicating the existence of a cytoplasmic signal transduction pathway triggered by UV-induced DNA damage. In addition to activation, new synthesis of AP-1 is induced by UV radiation.

Shuttle vectors for studying mutagenesis in mammalian cells

Shuttle vectors are DNA plasmids able to replicate in both mammalian cells and bacteria. They have been used to examine rapidly various aspects of DNA repair, recombination and mutagenesis. Three main classes of shuttle vector have been developed. The transiently replicating vectors are usually based on Simian Virus 40 replication origin. The episomal vectors based on the Epstein-Barr virus replication replicate almost permanently in host cells. Different biological systems, including retroviral vectors, allow the integration of a target gene into the chromosomal structure of the infected cells. In all cases, low molecular weight DNA can be recovered from mammalian cells and shuttled back to bacteria for mutagenesis screening. The advantages and disadvantages of these different types of shuttle vectors are discussed with a special emphasis on their use for a rapid analysis of mutation spectra in mammalian cells.

Use of a simian virus 40-based shuttle vector to analyze enhanced mutagenesis in mitomycin C-treated monkey cells

When monkey cells were treated with mitomycin C 24 h before transfection with UV-irradiated pZ189 (a simian virus 40-based shuttle vector), there was a twofold increase in the frequency of mutations in the supF gene of the vector. These results suggest the existence of an enhancible mutagenesis pathway in mammalian cells. However, DNA sequence analysis of the SupF- mutants suggested no dramatic changes in the mechanisms of mutagenesis due to mitomycin C treatment of the cells.

Use of data from bacteria to interpret data on DNA damage processing in mammalian cells

The most important reason for determining the changes in base sequence in the processing of DNA damage is to determine mechanisms. Currently, much more is known about these mechanisms in prokaryotes, partly because the experiments are easier and quicker to do in bacteria, and partly because of the wealth of well characterized bacterial mutants deficient in various DNA repair pathways. This paper summarizes some information on the mechanisms in bacteria that are involved in the induction by various agents of base change mutations, 1- and 2-base deletions or additions that cause frameshifts, and more complicated insertions and deletions that involve up to tens of base pairs. For gross DNA rearrangements such as large deletions involving hundreds or thousands of base pairs, there is actually more information available in mammalian cells than in bacterial cells. It is suggested that deletions of several kilobases or more in bacteria are not easy to detect because they have a high probability of deleting both the gene under study and an adjacent essential gene, forming a nonviable cell. In mammalian cells, the large size (30-40-kb pairs) of the average gene, including both introns and exons, means that a large deletion is more likely to be confined to a single gene and less likely to lead to a nonviable cell.

Studies on direct and indirect effects of DNA damage on mutagenesis in monkey cells using an SV40-based shuttle vector

We are using an SV40-based shuttle vector, pZ189, to study mechanisms of mutagenesis in mammalian cells. The vector can be treated with mutagens in vitro and replicated in animal cells; resulting mutants can be selected and amplified in bacteria for DNA sequencing. This versatile vector system has allowed us to explore several different questions relating to the mutagenic process. We have studied the direct effects of template damage caused by UV or benzo[a]pyrene diolepoxide by treating vector DNA with these agents and then replicating the damaged DNA in monkey cells. Mutational mechanisms were deduced from the spectrum of mutations induced in the supF target gene of the vector DNA. To study the role of indirect effects of DNA damage on mutagenesis in mammalian cells, we have treated the cells and the vector DNA separately with DNA-damaging agents. We find that pretreatment of cells with DNA-damaging agents, or with conditioned medium from damaged cells, causes an enhancement of mutagenesis of a UV-damaged vector. Thus, DNA damage can act indirectly to enhance the mutagenic process. We also have preliminary evidence that pZ189 can be used in an in vitro DNA replication system to study the process of mutation fixation on the biochemical level. We believe that the pZ189 vector will prove to be as useful for in vitro studies of mutational mechanisms as it has been for in vivo studies.

Biochemical aspects of radiation biology

In order to analyze the mechanisms of biological radiation effects, the events after radiation energy absorption in irradiated organisms have to be studied by physico-chemical and biochemical methods. The radiation effects in vitro on biomolecules, especially DNA, are described, as well as their alterations in irradiated cells. Whereas in vitro, in aqueous solution, predominantly OH radicals are effective and lead to damage in single moieties of the DNA, in vivo the direct absorption of radiation energy leads to 'locally multiply-damaged sites', which produce DNA double-strand breaks and locally denatured regions. DNA damage will be repaired in irradiated cells. Error free repair leads to the original nucleotide sequence in the genome by excision or by recombination. "Error prone repair"(mutagenic repair), leads to mutation. However, the biochemistry of these processes, regulated by a number of genes, is poorly understood. In addition, more complex reactions, such as gene amplification and transposition of mobile gene elements, are responsible for mutation or malignant transformation.

Do mitochondrial DNA fragments promote cancer and aging?

Reactive oxygen species are important in carcinogenesis, diseases, and aging, probably through oxidative damage of DNA. Our understanding of this relationship at the molecular level is very sketchy. It has recently been found that in mitochondria oxidative DNA damage is particularly high and may not be repaired efficiently. I propose that oxidatively generated DNA fragments escape from mitochondria and become integrated into the nuclear genome. This may transform cells to a cancerous state. Time-dependent nuclear accumulation of mitochondrial DNA fragments may progressively change the nuclear information content and thereby cause aging. This proposal can be tested experimentally.

Establishment and characterization of a human cell strain, KT, with high sensitivity to UV-killing and to cell proliferation inhibition by interferon

We have established a human cell line, designated KT, with high susceptibility to both cell proliferation inhibition by interferon and UV-killing, from a metastatic breast carcinoma. A tumor marker, a pregnancy-specific glycoprotein (Schwangerschaftsprotein 1; SP1), and carcinoma characteristics compatible with ductal carcinoma of the breast were seen in KT cells by electron microscopic observation. KT cells were slightly more resistant to X-ray-induced toxicity than fibroblastic cells, termed KS, from the scalp of the patient. But, KT cells had lower cloning efficiency after UV irradiation than did KS cells: D0 values of 1.5 J/m2 and 7.2 J/m2, respectively. KT cells also appeared more susceptible to human interferon (HuIFN) preparations (alpha, beta, gamma and natural or recombinant) than did KS cells, as measured by cell colony formation ability, proliferation rates, and [3H]deoxythymidine incorporation levels into acid-insoluble cell materials. The sensitivity of KT cells to UV and HuIFN was greater than that of human RSa cells, a cell line with high sensitivity to both agents. KT cells had more capacity for UV-induced DNA-repair replication synthesis than did RSa cells, the capacity being much the same as that of KS cells. There was no significant difference in levels of antiviral activity induced by HuIFN and binding capacity for 125I-labeled IFN-alpha A between KT and KS cells. KT cells appeared refractory to cell proliferation inhibition by tumor necrosis factor (TNF) preparations.

Molecular analysis of enhanced replication of UV-damaged simian virus 40 DNA in UV-treated mammalian cells

Irradiation of simian virus 40 (SV40)-infected cells with low fluences of UV light (20 to 60 J/m2, inducing one to three pyrimidine dimers per SV40 genome) causes a dramatic inhibition of viral DNA replication. However, treatment of cells with UV radiation (20 J/m2) before infection with SV40 virus enhances the replication of UV-damaged viral DNA. To investigate the mechanism of this enhancement of replication, we analyzed the kinetics of synthesis and interconversion of viral replicative intermediates synthesized after UV irradiation of SV40-infected cells that had been pretreated with UV radiation. This enhancement did not appear to be due to an expansion of the size of the pool of replicative intermediates after irradiation of pretreated infected cells; the kinetics of incorporation of labeled thymidine into replicative intermediates were very similar after irradiation of infected control and pretreated cells. The major products of replication of SV40 DNA after UV irradiation at the low UV fluences used here were form II molecules with single-stranded gaps (relaxed circular intermediates). There did not appear to be a change in the proportion of these molecules synthesized when cells were pretreated with UV radiation. Thus, it is unlikely that a substantial amount of DNA synthesis occurs past pyrimidine dimers without leaving gaps. This conclusion is supported by the observation that the proportion of newly synthesized SV40 form I molecules that contain pyrimidine dimers was not increased in pretreated cells. Pulse-chase experiments suggested that there is a more efficient conversion of replicative intermediates into form I molecules in pretreated cells. This could be due to more efficient gap filling in relaxed circular intermediate molecules or to the release of blocked replication forks. Alternatively, the enhanced replication observed here may be due to an increase in the excision repair capacity of the pretreated cells.

Use of a simian virus 40-based shuttle vector to analyze enhanced mutagenesis in mitomycin C-treated monkey cells

When monkey cells were treated with mitomycin C 24 h before transfection with UV-irradiated pZ189 (a simian virus 40-based shuttle vector), there was a twofold increase in the frequency of mutations in the supF gene of the vector. These results suggest the existence of an enhancible mutagenesis pathway in mammalian cells. However, DNA sequence analysis of the SupF- mutants suggested no dramatic changes in the mechanisms of mutagenesis due to mitomycin C treatment of the cells.

Dissociation of carcinogen-induced SV40 DNA-amplification and amplification of AAV DNA in a Chinese hamster cell line

Time kinetics of AAV-5 DNA amplification induced by MNNG in cells of a Chinese hamster line (CO631) and a Syrian hamster line (Elona) were compared to kinetics of SV40 DNA amplification in these cells. AAV-5 DNA amplification starts in both lines about 8 hr following treatment of AAV-infected cells with MNNG. SV40 DNA amplification is induced only in CO631 cells. The time it becomes detectable varies but in no case was before 23 hr after MNNG treatment. In CO631 cells a second round of AAV DNA amplification takes place. It starts at times paralleling the MNNG-induced synthesis of SV40 DNA but appears to be independent of genotoxic treatment. Elona cells amplify neither SV40 DNA after exposure to chemical carcinogens nor AAV-5 DNA in untreated cells. In both lines combined treatment with MNNG and AAV-5 resulted in marked cytopathogenic changes and cell death. In the test systems used here viral DNA amplification did not lead to synthesis of infectious virus, thus, the viral cycle remained abortive.

Molecular analysis of enhanced replication of UV-damaged simian virus 40 DNA in UV-treated mammalian cells

Irradiation of simian virus 40 (SV40)-infected cells with low fluences of UV light (20 to 60 J/m2, inducing one to three pyrimidine dimers per SV40 genome) causes a dramatic inhibition of viral DNA replication. However, treatment of cells with UV radiation (20 J/m2) before infection with SV40 virus enhances the replication of UV-damaged viral DNA. To investigate the mechanism of this enhancement of replication, we analyzed the kinetics of synthesis and interconversion of viral replicative intermediates synthesized after UV irradiation of SV40-infected cells that had been pretreated with UV radiation. This enhancement did not appear to be due to an expansion of the size of the pool of replicative intermediates after irradiation of pretreated infected cells; the kinetics of incorporation of labeled thymidine into replicative intermediates were very similar after irradiation of infected control and pretreated cells. The major products of replication of SV40 DNA after UV irradiation at the low UV fluences used here were form II molecules with single-stranded gaps (relaxed circular intermediates). There did not appear to be a change in the proportion of these molecules synthesized when cells were pretreated with UV radiation. Thus, it is unlikely that a substantial amount of DNA synthesis occurs past pyrimidine dimers without leaving gaps. This conclusion is supported by the observation that the proportion of newly synthesized SV40 form I molecules that contain pyrimidine dimers was not increased in pretreated cells. Pulse-chase experiments suggested that there is a more efficient conversion of replicative intermediates into form I molecules in pretreated cells. This could be due to more efficient gap filling in relaxed circular intermediate molecules or to the release of blocked replication forks. Alternatively, the enhanced replication observed here may be due to an increase in the excision repair capacity of the pretreated cells.

Effects of human interferon on cellular response to UV in UV-sensitive human cell strains

Cells of a human RSa cell line, with high sensitivity to UV killing and low capacity for DNA repair, when pretreated with 1-100 units/ml of human interferon (HuIFN) preparations for more than 12 h before irradiation, acquired an enhancement of UV-induced DNA-repair replication synthesis in association with recovery from inhibition of total cellular DNA synthesis and UV survival. Prompt and transient induction of plasminogen activator activities was also found within 5 min after UV irradiation in the cells pretreated with HuIFN but not in the cells non-pretreated with HuIFN. The enhancement and induction effects of HuIFN were observed, irrespective of the kind of HuIFN preparation used (alpha, beta or gamma, and natural or recombinant) and in other UV-sensitive fibroblast cells which were derived from Cockayne syndrome and xeroderma pigmentosum fibroblasts (XP1KY). However, all of the enhancement of DNA-repair synthesis and the induction of plasminogen activator activities by HuIFN was suppressed by treatment with cycloheximide immediately after UV irradiation.

Preirradiation of host cells does not alter blockage of simian virus 40 replication forks by pyrimidine dimers

Do damage-inducible responses in mammalian cells alter the interaction of lesions with replication forks? We have previously demonstrated that preirradiation of the host cell mitigates UV inhibition of SV40 DNA replication; this mitigation can be detected within the first 30 min after the test irradiation. Here we test the hypotheses that this mitigation involves either (1) rapid dimer removal, (2) rapid synthesis of daughter strands past lesions (trans-dimer synthesis), or (3) continued progression of the replication fork beyond a dimer. Cells preirradiated with UV were infected with undamaged SV40, and the effects of UV upon viral DNA synthesis were measured within the first hour after a subsequent test irradiation. In preirradiated cells, as well as in non-preirradiated cells, pyrimidine dimers block elongation of daughter strands; daughter strands grow only to a size equal to the interdimer distance along the parental strands. There is, within this first hour after UV, no evidence for trans-dimer synthesis, nor for more rapid dimer removal either in the bulk of the parental DNA or in molecules in the replication pool. Progression of the replication forks was analyzed by electron microscopy of replicating SV40 molecules. Dimers block replication-fork progression in preirradiated cells to the same extent as in non-preirradiated cells. These experiments argue strongly against the hypotheses that preirradiation of host cells results in either the rapid removal of dimers, trans-dimer synthesis, or continued replication-fork progression beyond dimers.

The pR plasmid: a tool for discriminating between DNA lesions induced by different types of cytotoxic agents in cultured mammalian cells

The LA-D cells, obtained by cotransformation of LTA mouse cells (tk- aprt-) with pR plasmid and with tk gene as selective marker, are significantly more resistant to UV light and 4-nitroquinoline-N-1-oxide than LTA control cells. In this work, we report that the LA-D cells exhibit different degrees of response to various DNA-damaging agents: wild-type survival to mitomycin, increased sensitivity to bleomycin, cis-diamminedichloroplatinum and N-methyl-N'-nitro-N-nitrosoguanidine. The pR plasmid could, therefore, play an important role in the DNA-repair mechanisms that modulate the cytotoxic effect of the DNA-inhibitory agents. The possible interactions between pR plasmid products and the different repair enzymes involved are discussed.

Replication of DNA containing apurinic sites in human and mouse cells probed with parvoviruses MVM and H-1

We studied the effect of apurinic sites on DNA replication in mouse and human cells, using parvoviruses MVM (minute virus of mice) and H-1 as probes. Although apurinic sites are efficient blocks to the replication of these single-stranded DNA viruses in vivo, depurinated parvoviruses can be reactivated if host cells have been preexposed to a subtoxic dose of UV light. The target of this conditional reactivation process is the conversion of depurinated input DNA into double-stranded replicative forms; the concomitant increase in viral mutagenesis strongly suggests that apurinic sites can be bypassed in mammalian cells.

4NQO- or MNNG-resistant variants established from a human cell line, RSb, with high sensitivity to both agents

From a human cell line, RSb, with high sensitivity to the killing effects of 4-nitroquinoline 1-oxide (4NQO), N-methyl-N'-nitro-N-nitrosoguanidine (MNNG) and 254-nm ultraviolet light, a 4NQO-resistant variant, Qr-10, and an MNNG-resistant one, Gr-10, were established using ethyl methanesulfonate as the mutagen. Cell proliferation studies and colony-formation assays revealed that Qr-10 and Gr-10 cells actively proliferated under conditions where RSb cell proliferation was greatly inhibited by 4NQO and MNNG, respectively. Total cellular DNA synthesis, as estimated by [Me-3H]thymidine uptake into acid-insoluble cell materials, was depressed in 4NQO-treated Qr-10 and MNNG-treated Gr-10 cells as it was in chemical-treated RSb cells, but recovered more markedly from such inhibition in the variants. 4NQO- and MNNG-induced DNA-repair replication synthesis was enhanced to a greater extent in Qr-10 and Gr-10 cells, respectively, than in RSb cells. The Qr-10 and Gr-10 cells showed the same respective susceptibility to the effects of MNNG and 4NQO, on cell growth and DNA synthesis and DNA-repair synthesis as did the parent cells. But, Qr-10 cells had more resistance to UV-killing and higher levels of UV-induced DNA-repair synthesis than did RSb cells, while UV-susceptibility of Gr-10 cells was the same as that of the latter.

A DNA damage-responsive Drosophila melanogaster gene is also induced by heat shock

A gene isolated by screening Drosophila melanogaster tissue culture cells for DNA damage regulation was also found to be regulated by heat shock. After UV irradiation or heat shock, induction is at the transcriptional level and results in the accumulation of a 1.0-kilobase polyadenylated transcript. The restriction map of the clone bears no resemblance to the known heat shock genes, which are shown to be uninduced by UV irradiation.

Enhanced mutagenesis of UV-irradiated simian virus 40 occurs in mitomycin C-treated host cells only at a low multiplicity of infection

Treatment of monkey kidney cells with mitomycin C (MMC) 24 h prior to infection with UV-irradiated simian virus 40 (SV40) enhanced both virus survival and virus mutagenesis. The use of SV40 as a biological probe has been taken as an easy method to analyse SOS response of mammalian cells to the stress caused by DNA damage or inhibition of DNA replication. The mutation assay we used was based on the reversion from a temperature-sensitive phenotype (tsA58 mutant) to a wild-type phenotype. The optimal conditions for producing enhanced survival and mutagenesis in the virus progeny were determined with regard to the multiplicity of infection (MOI). Results showed that the level of enhanced mutagenesis observed for UV-irradiated virus grown in MMC-treated cells was an inverse function of the MOI, while enhanced survival was observed at nearly the same level regardless of the MOI. For the unirradiated virus, almost no increase in the mutation of virus progeny issued from MMC-treated cells was observed, while a small amount of enhanced virus survival was obtained. These results show that enhanced virus mutagenesis and enhanced virus survival can be dissociated under some experimental conditions. Enhanced virus mutagenesis, analogous to the error-prone replication of phages in SOS-induced bacteria, was observed, at least for SV40, only when DNA of both virus and host cells was damaged and when infection occurred with a small number of viral particles. We therefore hypothesize that an error-prone replication mode of UV-damaged templates is observed in induced monkey kidney cells.

[Genetic effects of low doses of radiation]

There are several approaches to evaluate the genetic effects of low doses of ionizing radiation in a human population. Based on experiments on mice using high doses, the genetic risk for humans has to be derived by extrapolation to low doses, assuming mouse and man respond in a similar way. Microdosimetric considerations indicate a linear relationship; studies on the molecular mechanism of radiation-induced mutagenesis lead to the conclusion that, in addition to a constitutive mutagenic process, an inducible compound exists which may cause linear-quadratic dose-effect curves. Linear extrapolation seems thus to be justified; however, the genetic risk of low doses may be slightly overestimated.

SV40-based Escherichia coli shuttle vectors infectious for monkey cells

We describe SV40-based Escherichia coli shuttle vectors which can be packaged as pseudovirions without excision of plasmid sequences and which can be rescued in bacteria. These vectors replicate and are transmitted as virus in monkey COS cells without requiring a helper virus. Extrachromosomal vector DNA isolated from infected cells can be rescued in E. coli, so that DNA alterations can be easily screened. Indeed, some of the constructions give rise to very stable plasmids with no detectable rearrangements after multiple lytic cycles in COS cells. The spontaneous mutation frequency measured in bacteria, on the lacO target, is smaller than those usually found with shuttle vectors. We also constructed an expression vector derived from one of our infectious viruses by inserting the chloramphenicol acetyl transferase gene, expressed from the SV40 early promoter, which is efficiently transduced to cells by infection. In this system, the shuttle virus combines the convenience of plasmid rescue and analysis in bacteria, with the advantages of infectious virus.