Repair of Chemical Damage to Human DNA

Abstract

Our experiments and the substance of this chapter deal with chemical mutagens and chemical carcinogens and how they affect human cells in vitro. In particular, we assay damage to human DNA and the extent to which it is repaired after treatment with such chemicals. Thus, for our own purposes, we tend to consider all these chemicals as DNA-damaging agents, irrespective of their actions in other systems as mutagens, carcinogens, or both. To point up the importance of repair studies, we will first discuss the sequence of molecular events in hypothetical experiments that do assay mutation and/or carcinogenesis, and we will indicate at what point the nature of the primary lesion and the extent of its repair become matters of prime interest.

Research jointly sponsored by the National Cancer Institute and the U.S. Atomic Energy Commission under contract with the Union Carbide Corporation.