title: Increased chromosomal radiosensitivity of a Chinese hamster ovary cell line that inducibly expresses the Eco RI restriction endonuclease.
abstract: We have transfected a Chinese hamster ovary cell line (CHO 6) with a plasmid that inducibly expresses the Eco RI restriction endonuclease gene in the presence of cadmium sulfate (CdSO4). Expression of Eco RI results in DNA double-strand breaks, which can lead to chromosome aberrations. The new line, designated CHO 10, also has a low level of constitutive expression of Eco RI in the absence of CdSO4 without any cytogenetic effect. This suggested that these cells may be efficient at repairing low levels of DNA double-strand breaks. To test this, both cell lines were exposed to ionizing radiation, and aberration yields were analyzed with or without induction of Eco RI. CHO 10 cells showed increased radiosensitivity after G1 irradiation, but after G2 exposure, only doses greater than or equal to 0.4 Gy caused more damage in CHO 10 cells. We conclude that CHO 10 cells can tolerate constitutive expression of Eco RI, but that when the cells are subjected to additional stress, in this case ionizing radiation, they become very sensitive to DNA double-strand breaks.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Radiobiology and Environmental Health, University of California, San Francisco 94143-0750.
authors.forename: R A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Winegar
authors.forename: M C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Land
authors.forename: W F
authors.initials: WF
authors.lastname: Morgan
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002104:Cadmium / Q000494:pharmacology; D019187:Cadmium Compounds; D002460:Cell Line; D002869:Chromosome Aberrations; D006224:Cricetinae; D004247:DNA / Q000528:radiation effects*; D015246:Deoxyribonuclease EcoRI / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics*; D004790:Enzyme Induction / Q000187:drug effects; D010957:Plasmids; D013431:Sulfates; D014162:Transfection
chemical_list: D019187:Cadmium Compounds; D013431:Sulfates; D002104:Cadmium; D004247:DNA; C037123:cadmium sulfate; D015246:Deoxyribonuclease EcoRI