Complementation of DNA-repair deficiencies in Chinese hamster ovary cells

Genetic mapping studies in bacterial, lower eukaryotic, and mammalian systems have demonstrated that the enzyme or enzyme complex involved in the initial incision step of the DNA excision repair pathway is coded for by more than one genetic locus. This paper reports the results of complementation studies that were performed with a number of DNA repair deficient Chinese hamster ovary cell lines. Complementation abilities were measured by comparing the survival of selected mutant X mutant hybrids with that of the tetrapoloid wild type after exposure to a number of physical and chemical agents. In all cases studied, hybrids formed from two different mutant lines showed resistance similar to that of the wild-type line. These results not only demonstrate that the mutant lines were in different complementation groups, but that complementation of a DNA-repair defect associated with one particular agent can complement the defect for another DNA-damaging agent.