Critical steps for induction of chromosomal aberrations in CHO cells heated in S phase

The following four effects on DNA replication are observed in cells heated in S phase of the cell cycle: (1) inhibition of replicon initiation, (2) delay in DNA chain elongation into multicluster-sized molecules > 160S, (3) reduction in fork displacement rate, and (4) increase in single-stranded regions in replicating DNA. Since cells heated in S phase manifest chromosomal aberrations when they enter metaphase, whereas cells heated in G1 do not, we attempted to determine if the effects on DNA replication are critical for the induction of chromosomal aberrations by studying these same effects during DNA replication when synchronous CHO cells had been heated (10 min at 45.5 degrees C) in G1 phase. Following a heat-induced G1 block (12 h), we found previously that when the cells entered S phase, replicon initiation was functional and chain elongation into multicluster-sized molecules > 160S was delayed but completed during S phase. In the present study, we find that the fork displacement rate was near normal and that there was no increase in single-stranded DNA. Additionally, an increase in excess nuclear protein induced in the heated G1-phase cells returns to a normal level by about 12 h, just prior to when the cells enter S phase. Since the excess nuclear protein remains for many hours in heated S-phase cells, we hypothesize that the excess nuclear protein is responsible for the drastic reduction in the fork displacement rate and the associated increase in single-stranded DNA. Furthermore, we hypothesize that this persistent increase in single-stranded DNA during replication is a critical step for the induction of chromosomal aberrations in heated S-phase cells. Consistent with this hypothesis, we observed that aphidicolin (1-2 micrograms/ml) treatment of S-phase cells for 13-16 h, which results in a twofold increase in single-stranded DNA during the inhibition of DNA synthesis, also induces chromosomal aberrations. Possibly, endogenous endonucleolytic attack occurs opposite these sites of single-stranded DNA, thus creating double-strand breaks which either can remain unrepaired or are misrepaired to account for the chromatid breaks and exchanges, respectively, observed as cells complete their cell cycle and enter metaphase.