Restricted repair of aflatoxin B, Induced damage In a DNA of monkey cefls

We have investigated the processing of adducts formed by covalent binding of aflatoxin B. (AFB,) to DNA in confluent cultures of African green monkey cells. Repair synthesis elicited by AFB, adducts was deficient in a DNA sequences compared to that in bulk DNA, altRough the initial levels of modifi-cation were the same for these DNAs. The removal of the primary initial adduct, AFB.-N-Guanine, was deficient in a DNA and the kinetics of its loss resembled those previously reported for removal from total DNA in xeroderma pigmentosum cells of complementation group A. Spontaneous loss of the AFB. moiety or the concomitant loss of the guanine to yield an apurinic site account for these results. The formation of the more chemically stable secondary product, AFB.-triamino-Pyrimidine, occurred more rapidly and to a greater extent in a DNA than in bulk DNA, probably because of slower removal of the primary product. The excision repair patch size for AFB. adducts in a DNA was only 10 nucleotides compared to 20 nucleotides for repair of AFB. adducts in bulk DNA. Irradiation of cells with low doses of UV prior to or immediately after treatment with AFB. increased the rate and extent of removal of AFB. adducts from a DNA to the levels found in the bulk DNA, indicating that trie formation of pyrimidine dimers or their repair may alter the chromatin structure of a DNA sufficiently to facilitate its repair