DNA as an important target in radiation-induced apoptosis of MYC and MYC plus RAS transfected rat embryo fibroblasts.

Purpose : This study uses a radiation chemistry approach to determine if DNA is an important target for radiation-induced apoptosis of myc (MR4) and myc plus ras (3.7) transfected rat embryo fibroblast cell lines. Materials and methods : The radiation protection efficiency of four thiols was compared with net molecular charge ranging from -1 to +2: mercaptopropionic acid (Z = -1), mercaptoethanol (Z = 0), cysteamine (Z = +1), N(2-mercaptoethyl)-1,3-diaminopropane (Z = +2). Protection factors were determined for these thiols against radiation-induced apoptosis (Apoalert assay), mitotic cell death (clonogenic assay) and double-strand break (dsb) induction (pulse field gel electrophoresis) in MR4 and 3.7 cells. Theoretical protection factors for these thiols against dsb induction were also calculated from second-order chemical repair constants for single-strand breaks (ssb) and the concentration of added thiols in MR4 and 3.7 cell lines. Results : The charge-dependent increases observed for measured protecti...