Detection of primary DNA damage in Chlamydomonas reinhardtii by means of modified microgel electrophoresis.

The assessment of genotoxic potential in surface water requires test methods, among which are those that detect initial DNA damage in organisms of aquatic biocenosis. The microgel electrophoresis (MGE) "comet assay" was applied to a ubiquitous unicellular green alga (Chlamydomonas reinhardtii) to detect DNA damage caused by genotoxins. For this, the test protocol described by Singh NP et al. [Exp Cell Res 175: 184-191, 1988] was modified. Major modifications were the use of alkaline lysis buffer with ionic detergents and the reduction of preincubation and electrophoresis times. Short-time exposure of Chlamydomonas to the well-known genotoxicants 4-nitroquinoline-1-oxide (4-NQO), N-nitrosodi…