DNA Repair Synthesis and Survival of Repair Deficient Human Cells Exposed to the K-Region Epoxide of Benz (α) anthracene 1

Abstract

Summary

Cultured cells of a xeroderma pigmentosum patient (XP) and two normal persons were exposed to the precarcinogen benz (α)anthracene, its highly reactive K-region epoxide and its metabolite cis-5,6-dihydrodiol. Only the BA-epoxide induces DNA alterations which are followed by a detectable level of DNA repair synthesis. The XP cells show a reduced level of DNA repair synthesis and an increased sensitivity to the lethal effect of BA-epoxide. The response of the XP cells to BA-epoxide resembles that following uV-irradiation or treatment with the oncogenic 4-nitroquinoline-1-oxides or N-acetoxy-and N-hydroxy-2-acetylaminofluorene.