Alterations in Repair of DNA Damage in Poly(ADP-Ribose) Polymerase Deficient Cell Lines

ADPRT 54 and ADPRT 351, are Chinese hamster, V79, derived mutant cell lines, selected for their marked deficiency in poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase activity (1). These cells were employed to analyze the effect of poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase deficiency on responsiveness to a series of DNA damaging agents including monofunctional and bifunctional alkylating agents, topoisomerase I and II inhibitors and X- and UV-irradiation (1-4). In contrast to previous studies, the use of these poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase deficient, mutant cell lines and comparison to events in normal, parental V79 cells allows for studies of the role of poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase without the use of enzyme inhibitors which could have multiple nonspecific effects.