Effect of gamma-irradiated DNA on DNA polymerase activity: a possible mechanism for cell killing

A cell-free assay was developed to measure the effect of γ-irradiated DNA template on the ability of DNA polymerase to copy unirradiated template. Doses as low as 1 krad were able to decrease (approx. 15%) the activity of both bacterial and mammalian DNA polymerases in the assay. The percentage of polymerase activity decreased as the dose received by the template increased. The reduction in DNA polymerase activity was shown to be due to an inhibition of the enzyme by the irradiated DNA. The mechanism for DNA polymerase inhibition was investigated. The interaction between irradiated DNA and DNA polymerase was found to be specific for the enzyme. The inhibition of DNA polymerase occurs prior to or during the initiation of DNA synthesis rather than after initiation of synthesis, i.e., during elongation. As in vitro assay for DNA polymerase α and β in irradiated HeLa cells was developed. The activities of both polymerases decreased as the dose received by the cells increased. Both DNA polymerases were found to recover by 2 hr postirradiation. Since DNA repair capability is intimately connected with cell survival, the observed diminution in DNA polymerase activity, following low doses of radiation, could be highly significant