title: Epistatic interactions of radiation-sensitive (rad) mutants of Caenorhabditis elegans.
abstract: Six double mutants and a quadruple mutant were derived from four UV radiation-hypersensitive single mutants (rad-1, rad-2, rad-3 and rad-7). Sensitivities of the 11 strains to UV, gamma-radiation and methyl methanesulfonate (MMS) were compared. Of the six double mutants, only the rad-1;rad-2 and rad-3;rad-7 doubles were no more hypersensitive than the most sensitive single mutant to UV-radiation. Thus, rad-1 and rad-2 define one epistasis group, whereas rad-3 and rad-7 define another. Consistent with this model was the observation that rad-1 and rad-2, but not rad-3 and rad-7, were hypersensitive to gamma-radiation. In addition, none of the multiple mutants was more hypersensitive to gamma-radiation than the most sensitive single rad mutant. No synergistic interactions of the rad mutations with respect to MMS sensitivities were observed.
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002107:Caenorhabditis / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics* / Q000528:radiation effects; D004260:DNA Repair; D004843:Epistasis, Genetic; D005720:Gamma Rays; D008741:Methyl Methanesulfonate / Q000494:pharmacology; D009154:Mutation; D011836:Radiation Tolerance; D014466:Ultraviolet Rays
chemical_list: D008741:Methyl Methanesulfonate