A further definition of characteristics of DNA-excision repair in xeroderma pigmentosum complementation group A strains

Abstract

The location in the genome of excision repair following exposure to UV (254 nm) of two XP complementation group A strains, XP12BE and XP8LO, that differ considerably in their excision-repair rates, have been determined. Capacity for repair in XP8LO has also been determined. Sites repaired in DNA in a 24-h post-UV period were located relative to the remaining pyrimidine dimers using the M. luteus UV-endonuclease to nick partially repaired DNA and sedimentation in alkaline sucrose to size the resulting DNA. Repair in group A occurs randomly throughout the genome in a manner similar to that observed for normal cells but in contrast to domain-limited repair in group C strains. This observation defines a further similarity of the excision repair detected in group A compared to normal cells that is in addition to the previously reported related characteristics of the respective excision rate curves. A reduced repair capacity in XP8LO relative to normal cells was detected. This strain, which repairs DNA at an initial rate identical to that of normal strains when irradiated with doses of 5 J/m2 or less, repairs DNA at a slower than normal but constant rate at higher doses. This leads to the suggestion that XP8LO is defective in the number of repair enzyme complexes compared to normal cells.