Urea facilitates quantitative estimation of DNA damage in situ by preventing its degradation.
A buffer containing 7 M urea was used to successfully prevent DNA degradation of in situ damaged fish skin and resulted in reproducible high molecular weight DNA. This treatment in combination with a quantitative gel electrophoresis technique permitted estimation of small changes induced in unlabeled DNA per unit molecular weight after treatment with a DNA damaging agent (e.g., ultraviolet irradiation).
Ahmed
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Biology Department, Brookhaven National Laboratory, Upton, New York 11973.
D000818:Animals; D002021:Buffers; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D003532:Cyprinodontiformes; D004247:DNA / Q000302:isolation & purification* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000528:radiation effects; D004249:DNA Damage; D004720:Endonucleases / Q000378:metabolism; D004996:Ethidium; D005347:Fibroblasts / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism / Q000528:radiation effects; D005557:Formaldehyde; D006367:HeLa Cells; D006801:Humans; D012867:Skin / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000528:radiation effects; D014466:Ultraviolet Rays; D014508:Urea / Q000494:pharmacology*
D002021:Buffers; D005557:Formaldehyde; D014508:Urea; D004247:DNA; D004720:Endonucleases; D004996:Ethidium