Inhibition of semiconservative DNA synthesis in ICR 2A frog cells exposed to monochromatic uv wavelengths (252-313 nm) and photoreactivating light

Exposure of ICR 2A frog cells to monochromatic uv wavelengths in the range 252-313 nm caused an inhibition of semiconservative DNA synthesis which was partially relieved in cells receiving a post irradiation treatment with photoreactivating light (>350 nm). Hence pyrimidine dimers acted as lesions blocking DNA synthesis in uv-irradiated cells based upon the specificity of photoreactivating enzyme for the light-dependent monomerization of dimers in DNA. Compared with the shorter wavelengths tested, however, this recovery of DNA synthesis was not as great in cells exposed to 302-nm radiation and was nearly absent in 313-nm- irradiated cells up to 12 hr after treatment. These results suggest that nondimer photoproducts also play an important role in causing DNA synthesis inhibition in cells exposed to wavelengths greater than 300 nm.