DNA-protein crosslinking by heavy metals in Novikoff hepatoma

Crosslinking of proteins to DNA was studied in live intact Novikoff ascites hepatoma cells exposed in vitro to salts of chromium VI, III, and II, nickel II, cadmium II, and to CoCl2, As2O3, and AlK(SO4)2. DNA-protein complexes were separated by high-speed centrifugation of cells solubilized in buffered 4% sodium dodecyl sulfate and assayed by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. Hexavalent chromium compounds formed DNA-protein complexes very efficiently. The trivalent, poorly soluble, cupric chromite was nearly as efficient crosslinker as hexavalent Cr, perhaps because phagocytosis facilitated its entry into the cells. The more basic divalent form produced hardly any crosslinks. Most of the crosslinked proteins were common to all of the chromium salts employed. Nickel salts formed DNA-protein crosslinks less efficiently. Most proteins crosslinked by this metal had a high molecular weight ranging from 94,000 to 200,000. There was little qualitative difference between the crosslinked protein patterns for several various nickel (II) salts. Similar results were obtained for cells incubated with cadmium salts. Most of the proteins crosslinked by cadmium had high molecular weights and were similar to those crosslinked by nickel (II). Relatively weak, but significant, crosslinking was also observed when the Novikoff hepatoma cells were exposed to CoCl2, As2O3, or AlK(SO4)2.