Conversion of replicative intermediates in human DNA-repair defective cells

We have examined the conversion of intermediates of DNA replication in normal human skin fibroblasts and fibroblasts isolated from patients with genetic diseases caused by putative DNA repair defects. Experiments were performed in non-transformed, unchallenged cells using alkaline sucrose sedimentation analysis to demonstrate precursor low molecular weight (LMW) DNA molecules which converted into high molecular weight (HMW) DNA with time. Analyses of conversion of replicative intermediates were conducted in cells from patients with ataxia telangiectasia (AT), Fanconi anemia (FA), Bloom syndrome (BS), Cockayne syndrome (CS) and xeroderma pigmentosum (XP). Our studies show that conversion of replicative intermediates occurs in all cell strains examined. However, XP cells (complementation groups A and E) show evidence of abnormalities in the conversion of LMW replicative intermediates, with the most dramatic alterations shown by cells from complementation group A.