Antimutagenic activities of naturally occurring polyamines in Chinese hamster ovary cells in vitro.
Spermine and spermidine, ubiquitous polyamines present in bacteria and animal cells, are also involved in cell growth. Since they interact with the double helix, they can stabilize the DNA molecule. Recent evidence of the antimutagenic and anticarcinogenic capacity of spermine has focused attention on the mechanism(s) by which such agents can protect cells from induced damages. In the present paper we show the ability of spermine and spermidine to decrease the level of sister chromatid exchanges induced in Chinese hamster ovary cells cultivated in vitro, by treating them with Psoralen + UVA irradiation (able to induce mainly monoadducts and DNA cross-links). Two different mechanisms of polyamine action can be invoked to explain the preservative activity of this class of agents.
Dipartimento di Genetica e Biologia Molecolare, Università La Sapienza, Rome, Italy.
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R
Cozzi
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Perticone
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R
Bona
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Polani
D000818:Animals; D016587:Antimutagenic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D016466:CHO Cells; D002455:Cell Division / Q000187:drug effects / Q000528:radiation effects; D006224:Cricetinae; D005363:Ficusin / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008940:Mitotic Index / Q000187:drug effects / Q000528:radiation effects; D011701:PUVA Therapy; D011073:Polyamines / Q000494:pharmacology*; D012854:Sister Chromatid Exchange / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000528:radiation effects; D013095:Spermidine / Q000494:pharmacology; D013096:Spermine / Q000494:pharmacology; D014466:Ultraviolet Rays
D016587:Antimutagenic Agents; D011073:Polyamines; D013096:Spermine; D005363:Ficusin; D013095:Spermidine