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Possible role(s) of nuclear matrix and DNA loop organization in fixation or repair of DNA double-strand breaks

Conference ·
OSTI ID:400750
; ;  [1]
  1. Washington Univ. School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO (United States)
DNA double-strand breaks produced by ionizing radiation are considered to be a critical radiation-induced lesion responsible, in part, for cell killing. However, the manner in which structures within the nucleus involving DNA organization contribute to the balance between fixation or repair of these critical lesions remains largely obscure. The repair process requires both functional enzymes and substrate availability, i.e., access to and orientation of damage sites. Therefore, the ability to repair damaged DNA could be influenced not only by DNA integrity but also by the spatial organization of DNA. Therefore, the authors investigated the possibility that radiation-induced DNA damage differentially affects DNA supercoiling ability in cells of differing radiosensitivities using radioresistant and radiosensitive mutants of different origins. This study was also designed to determine if differences in the composition of the nuclear matrix exist between cell lines of each origin. Results from these studies indicate that differences in the composition of the nuclear matrix proteins and DNA stability might be related to intrinsic radiation resistance.
OSTI ID:
400750
Report Number(s):
CONF-9410280--; ISBN 0-935470-90-5
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English