Wavelength dependence of oxidative DNA damage induced by UV and visible light.

DNA damage induced by UV radiation and visible light (290-500 nm) in AS52 Chinese hamster cells was analysed by an alkaline elution assay with specific repair endonucleases. Cells were exposed to extensively filtered monochrome or broad-band radiation. Between 290 and 315 nm, the ratio of base modifications sensitive to Fpg protein (i.e. 8-hydroxyguanine and formamidopyrimidines) and T4 endonuclease V (i.e. cyclobutane pyrimidine dimers) was constant (approximately 1:200), indicating that the direct excitation of DNA is responsible for both types of damage in this range of the spectrum. While the yield of pyrimidine dimers per unit dose continued to decrease exponentially beyond 315 nm, the…