Effects of solar ultraviolet photons on mammalian cell DNA. [UVA (320-400 nm):a2]

Conference · Tue Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1991

OSTI ID:6106470

Peak, M J; Peak, J G

This document presents information on the possible mechanisms of carcinogenesis caused by UVA (ultraviolet radiation in the 320--400 nm region). Most studies showing the carcinogenic effects of ultraviolet light have concentrated on UVB (280--320 nm). UVA had been considered harmless even though it penetrates biological tissues better than UVB. Recently, it has become apparent that UVA is also capable of causing damage to cellular DNA. This was unexpected because the DNA UV absorption spectrum indicates a negligible probability that photons of wavelengths longer than 320 nm will be directly absorbed. The most common defects induced in DNA by UVB are pyrimidine photoproducts, such as thymidine dimers. UVA photons produce defects resembling those caused by ionizing radiations: single- and double-strand breaks, and DNA-protein crosslinks. This paper also discusses the role of DNA repair mechanisms in UVA-induced defects and the molecular mechanisms of UVA damage induction. 38 refs. (MHB)

• Research Organization: Argonne National Lab., IL (United States)
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE; NIOSH; USDOE, Washington, DC (United States); National Inst. for Occupational Safety and Health, Rockville, MD (United States)
• DOE Contract Number: W-31109-ENG-38
• OSTI ID: 6106470
• Report Number(s): ANL/CP-73713; CONF-9110280-1; ON: DE92003447
• Resource Relation: Conference: Biologic effects of light symposium, Atlanta, GA (United States), 13-15 Oct 1991
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
DNA
RADIATION EFFECTS
ULTRAVIOLET RADIATION
CARCINOGENESIS
CELL CULTURES
DIMERS
DNA ADDUCTS
DNA REPAIR
MAMMALS
REVIEWS
STRAND BREAKS
ADDUCTS
ANIMALS
BIOLOGICAL RECOVERY
BIOLOGICAL REPAIR
DOCUMENT TYPES
ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION
NUCLEIC ACIDS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
PATHOGENESIS
RADIATIONS
RECOVERY
REPAIR
VERTEBRATES
560100* - Biomedical Sciences
Applied Studies- Radiation Effects