title: Simulation experiments of the effect of space environment on bacteriophage and DNA thin films.
abstract: The main goal of PUR experiment (phage and uracil response) is to examine and quantify the effect of specific space conditions on nucleic acid models. To achieve this an improved method was elaborated for the preparation of DNA and bacteriophage thin films. The homogeneity of the films was controlled by UV spectroscopy and microscopy. To provide experimental evidence for the hypothesis that interplanetary transfer of the genetic material is possible, phage T7 and isolated T7 DNA thin films have been exposed to selected space conditions: intense UVC radiation (lambda=254 nm) and high vacuum (10(-4) Pa). The effects of DNA hydration, conformation and packing on UV radiation damage were examined. Characteristic changes in the absorption spectrum, in the electrophoretic pattern of DNA and the decrease of the amount of PCR products have been detected indicating the photodamage of isolated and intraphage DNA.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Biophysics and Radiation Biology, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary. fekete@puskin.sote.hu
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Fekete
authors.forename: Gy
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Rontó
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hegedüs
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Módos
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bérces
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Kovács
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Lammer
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Panitz
mesh_terms: D017123:Bacteriophage T7 / Q000235:genetics* / Q000528:radiation effects*; D004269:DNA, Bacterial / Q000528:radiation effects*; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000528:radiation effects; D004307:Dose-Response Relationship, Radiation; D005118:Extraterrestrial Environment; D011829:Radiation Dosage; D013053:Spectrophotometry; D014466:Ultraviolet Rays; D014498:Uracil / Q000528:radiation effects*; D014618:Vacuum
chemical_list: D004269:DNA, Bacterial; D004279:DNA, Viral; D014498:Uracil