Cell cycle dependence of mitotic delay in X-irradiated normal and ataxia-telangiectasia fibroblasts

An investigation has been made of the relationship between suppression in the mitotic index and inhibition of DNA synthesis in normal (N) and ataxia-telangiectasia (A-T) skin fibroblasts, using tritiated thymidine as a marker of the cell cycle. The delay in progression of X-irradiated cells through the cell cycle, which is more pronounced in normal than in A-T fibroblasts, was greatest for cells in G2 at the time of irradiation. The greater effect of radiation on the initiation of DNA synthesis in N than in A-T cells was reflected in the shape of the percent labelled mitosis curves after 3H-thymidine treatment. The duration of the S phase in unirradiated A-T cells was greater than in N cells. It is pointed out that any explanation of the underlying defect in A-T must account not only for the reduced radiosensitivity of DNA synthesis but for the lesser delay in G2. The authors claim that their data support the hypothesis that DNA is the principal target for radiation-induced G2 delay. (U.K.)