Action spectrum for the in vitro induction of simian virus 40 by ultraviolet radiation

A line of simian virus 40-transformed hamster kidney cells was exposed to ultraviolet radiation at eleven different wavelengths in the region 238-302 nm. An action spectrum derived from the resulting exposure-response curves for the induction of simian virus 40 from these cells exhibits a broad peak in the region 260-270 nm suggesting DNA as the major chromophore for this response. This conclusion is consistent with results obtained by other investigators who have noted viral induction by a number of DNA-damaging agents.