Ultraviolet mutagenesis of radiation-sensitive (rad) mutants of the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans.
A mutational tester strain (JP10) of the nematode C. elegans was used to capture recessive lethal mutations in a balanced 300 essential gene autosomal region. The probability of converting a radiation interaction into a lethal mutation was measured in young gravid adults after exposure to fluences of 254-nm ultraviolet radiation (UV) ranging from 0 to 300 Jm-2. Mutation frequencies as high as 5% were observed. In addition, three different radiation-hypersensitive mutations, rad-1, rad-3 and rad-7 were incorporated into the JP10 background genotype, which allowed us to measure mutation frequencies in radiation-sensitive animals. The strain homozygous for rad-3 was hypermutable to UV while strains homozygous for rad-1 and rad-7 were hypomutable. Data showing the effects of UV on larval development and fertility for the rad mutants is also shown and compared for wild-type and JP10 backgrounds.
Coohill
T
T
Department of Physics and Astronomy, Western Kentucky University, Bowling Green 42101.
Marshall
T
T
Schubert
W
W
Nelson
G
G
D000818:Animals; D002107:Caenorhabditis / Q000528:radiation effects*; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000528:radiation effects; D005854:Germ Cells / Q000528:radiation effects; D007814:Larva / Q000528:radiation effects; D009154:Mutation; D014466:Ultraviolet Rays