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Biomedical subjects

U Hagen

Publications and source records attributed to U Hagen.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

Distribution of S1-nuclease sensitive sites and double-strand breaks in gamma-irradiated lambda-DNA.

Double-strand breaks and regions with unpaired bases (S1-nuclease sensitive sites) are formed in the DNA of gamma-irradiated lambda-phages. The frequency of both events was determined in the various fragments produced after digestion with a restriction enzyme (Eco RI). The results show that both types of radiation damage are randomly distributed in the DNA molecule. There is no hint that the S1 sites are formed in preferred regions of the lambda-genome.

Bacteriophage lambda↗

Mechanism of the ATP effect in the DNA repair synthesis of gamma-irradiated Escherichia coli cells.

Gamma-irradiation of Escherichia coli cells made permeable to deoxynucleoside triphosphates (dNTP) by toluene induces a repair-type DNA synthesis. As previous studies have shown ATP stimulates this DNA synthesis; we studied the mechanism of the ATP effect by analyzing the kinetics of nucleotide incorporation at various dNTP concentrations. The V values of the DNA repair synthesis rise with increasing dose (0-50 Gy); nonirradiated cells showed a negligible nucleotide incorporation. The apparent Michaelis constant KM for dNTP in the assay was 83-143 microM and the value was much higher than for a DNA polymerase reaction in vitro. ATP stimulated the DNA synthesis with concomitant decrease of KM yet unchanged V values. Similar results were obtained with a rec BC strain. We propose that the ATP effect is due to a greater affinity of dNTPs to the DNA polymerase, possibly by a stabilisation of the structural integrity of the complex DNA with repair enzymes. Activation of exonucleases by ATP could be excluded. Addition of NAD to the reaction mixture inhibits the DNA synthesis possibly by activation of ligase which closes the nicks in the DNA strand.

Adenosine Triphosphate↗

Properties of an endonuclease activity in Micrococcus luteus acting on gamma-irradiated DNA and on apurinic DNA.

A protein fraction from Micrococcus luteus with endonuclease activity against gamma-irradiated DNA was isolated and characterized. An additional activity on apurinic sites could not be separated, either by sucrose gradient sedimentation or by gel filtration through Sephadex G 100. From gel filtration, a molecular weight of about 25 000 was calculated for both endonuclease activities. The endonuclease activity against gamma-irradiated DNA was stimulated five-fold with 5 mM Mg++, whereas that against apurinic sites was less dependent on the Mg++ concentration. 100 mM KCl inhibited the gamma-ray endonuclease, but not the apurinic endonuclease activity. In gamma-irradiated RNA the protein recognized 1.65 endonuclease sensitive sites per radiation induced single-strand break, among which are 0.45 alkali labile lesions in the nucleotide strand. The affinity of the enzyme for the endonuclease sensitive site was evaluated resulting in a Km-value of 73 nM.

Centrifugation, Density Gradient↗

Genomic integrity of T1 DNA after gamma-and ultraviolet irradiation.

T1 DNA, gamma-irradiated in the phage particle or irradiated with ultraviolet light was checked for structural integrity by kinetics of melting and reannealing. gamma-Irradiated DNA differed in all thermokinetic properties by a factor of 3-4 from DNA degraded by mechanical or enzymatical treatments. Ultraviolet irradiation caused much smaller effects than gamma-irradiation. Considering the frequency of pyrimidine dimers in relation to the gamma-ray induced lesions, strong evidence can be derived, that in addition to single base damages, local denatured regions are produced by gamma-irradiation. Such regions, formed possibly by direct absorption of radiation energy in DNA, i.e. by primary ionizations, are associated with base lesions and are passed over during reannealing.

Coliphages↗

Action of intercalating agents on the activity of DNA polymerase I.

The effect of intercalating compounds such as 9-aminoacridine, quinacrine (atebrin), proflavine and daunomycin on the activity of DNA polymerase I(EC 2.7.7.7) was studied in vitro and compared with the binding of these acridines to native DNA. The enzyme kinetics were followed at various concentrations of DNA 3'-OH primer end groups and constant concentrations of deoxynucleosidetriphosphates as well as under the opposite conditions. The Km values for the DNA 3'-OH end groups were 16--38 nM and for the deoxynucleosidetriphosphates 2--5 micrometer, depending on the buffer and pH used in the enzymatic assay. All acridine derivates inhibit the DNA polymerase; at variable DNA concentrations a competitive inhibition was observed, where the Ki values ranged between 0.87 and 8.5 micrometer. At variable concentrations of deoxynucleosidetriphosphates and constant DNA concentration a non-competitive inhibition was observed. On denatured 3'-OH DNA as well as on poly(dA) - (dT)10 as substrate no inhibition by 9-aminoacridine was observed. 5'--3' exonuclease activity of DNA polymerase is inhibited by 9-aminoacridine but 3'--5' exonuclease activity on denatured DNA is not influenced by this intercalating compound. The affinity of the acridines to DNA was determined spectrophotometrically under conditions similar to those in the enzymatic assay and the computed frequency of intercalation was related to the inhibition of enzymatic activity. The mechanism of inhibition is explained by a disturbance of the structure of the double helical DNA due to the interaction of the bound acridine derivates.

Acridines↗

Endonuclease activities in extracts of Micrococcus luteus that act on gemma-irradiated DNA.

Several protein fractions containing endonuclease activity against gemma-irradiated DNA (gamma-endonuclease) were isolated from M. luteus. The crude extract was eluted on a phosphocellulose column and chromatographed on TEAE cellulose and subsequently on hydroxyapatite. Five peaks of gamma-endonuclease were obtained from each preparation. Repeated experiments showed comparable chromatographic behavior of the fractions. There was no detectable activity of U.V.-endonuclease in the fractions with gamma-endonuclease but a small contamination of endonuclease against unirradiated DNA and against DNA with apurinic sites. The gamma-endonuclease is stimulated by, but is not dependent on, magnesium. Several tests for endonuclease activity have been used: the analysis of strand breaks in calf-thymus DNA or in PM2 DNA, and the determination of end-groups formed by endonuclease, either 3'OH end-groups or phosphomonoester end groups. From the results obtained it can be assumed that the strand breaks induced by the gamma-endonuclease carry 3'OH and 5' phosphate end groups.

Cobalt Radioisotopes↗

In vitro repair of radiation-induced strand breaks in DNA.

DNA, gamma-irradiated in vitro or in isolated thymocytes was treated with several enzymes to achieve repair of the radiation-induced single strand braks. Whereas an incubation with polynucleotide ligase can join only 25% of the single strand breaks, a combined treatemnt with exonuclease III (EC 3.1.4.1), DNA polymerase I (EC 2.7.7.7), and polynucleotide ligase leads to repair of 80% of the breaks. For this in vitro repair the exonuclease III has to remove several, probably damaged, nucleotides from the 3'-terminal producing a single-stranded gap, which will be filled in by DNA polymerase I and joined by ligase. Tests for successful rejoining of the strand breaks were performed by showing the loss of primer 3'-OH sites for DNA polymerase I, by the resistance of incorporated nucleotides in the gap to removal by a second exonuclease III treatment, and by strand break determination in the analytical ultracentrifuge. 20% of the radiation-induced strand breaks will not be repaired by this combined treatment possibly due to an incomplete binding of the ligase on the 5'-terminals and/or an incomplete removal of the damaged 3'-terminals by exonuclease III.

Animals↗

Changes in DNA secondary structure after gamma-irradiation.

Native calf thymus DNA was gamma-irradiated at 500 mug/ml in 0.01 M NaCl in the presence or absence of oxygen. By irradiation, an increasing amount of DNA becomes reactive with a water-soluble carbodiimide-derivative (CMEC). In the DNA sections reactive with CMEC the nucleotide strands are separated, a phenomenon previously described as radiation-induced denaturation. The dose-effect curve for the formation of denatured DNA shows an upward-bent form; a distinct oxygen effect of about 2 is observed. By a comparative study with DNA samples, degraded partially with DNAse I, it was shown that a minor part of the radiation-induced denaturation results from the formation of the radiation-induced single strand breaks, whereas the major part is a local denaturation independent of the strand breaks. In these locally denatured regions 20 to 50 nucleotide pairs are separated.

Animals↗

Oxygen--effect on strand breaks and specific end-groups in DNA of irradiated thymocytes.

Thymocytes were irradiated with fast electrons up to 6 Mrad in the presence and absence of oxygen. The cells were treated before irradiation with a cold shock to prevent any repair rejection during irradiation. The DNA isolated subsequently was analysed for double-strand breaks (dsb), actual single-strand breaks (ssb) and alkali-induced strand breaks (alisb). We observed a linear increase of all types of lesions with dose and an o.e.r. for dsb of 3-6, for ssb of 4-9 and for alisb of 2-1. The data do not deviate significantly from those, measured on thymocytes irradiated without cold shock. In DNA of irradiated thymocytes, the frequency of 3' and 5' hydroxyl and 5' phosphate end-groups was analysed enzymatically. In both the ssb and alisb, about 11 per cent of the terminals carry 5'OH end-groups and 20-40 per cent 5' phosphate groups. On the 3' terminals, 60-80 per cent of the ssb are identified as 3'OH end-groups, whereas on the alisb only a small amount of 3'OH end-groups if found. The frequency of characterized end-groups shows the same oxygen effect as the corresponding strand breaks. Therefore, in the presence and absence of oxygen, the same mechanism may be responsible for formation of DNA strand breaks in vivo.

Animals↗