Detection of gamma-irradiation induced DNA damage and radioprotection of compounds in yeast using comet assay.
The single cell gel electrophoresis assay (SCGE), a very rapid and sensitive method, has been applied to follow gamma-irradiation induced DNA damage in budding yeast, Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Spheroplasting the gamma-irradiated yeast cells by enzyme glusulase, before subjecting them to electrophoresis, resulted in a well-defined appearance of comets. Yeast comets look quite different from mammalian comets. A linear relationship was observed between the doses of irradiation and the tail moments of comets. These studies were extended to follow the action of known radio-protectors, i.e., caffeine and disulfiram. The results revealed the usefulness SCGE as applied to yeast in studies of the gamma-irradiation-induced DNA breaks and also radio-protection by chemicals at doses that are not feasible with other eukaryotes.
Radiation Biology and Health Sciences Division, Bhabha Atomic Research Centre, Trombay, Mumbai, India.
P S
PS
Nemavarkar
B K
BK
Chourasia
K
K
Pasupathy
D002110:Caffeine / Q000494:pharmacology; D020552:Comet Assay / Q000379:methods*; D004249:DNA Damage; D004271:DNA, Fungal / Q000528:radiation effects* / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D004221:Disulfiram / Q000494:pharmacology; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004307:Dose-Response Relationship, Radiation; D005720:Gamma Rays; D011829:Radiation Dosage; D011835:Radiation Protection / Q000379:methods; D011836:Radiation Tolerance / Q000187:drug effects; D011837:Radiation-Protective Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D012441:Saccharomyces cerevisiae / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics* / Q000528:radiation effects*
D004271:DNA, Fungal; D011837:Radiation-Protective Agents; D002110:Caffeine; D004221:Disulfiram