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Polyamine-induced compaction and aggregation of DNA--a major factor in radioprotection of chromatin under
G L Newton1, J A Aguilera, J F Ward
1Department of Chemistry, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla 92093, USA.
Radiation Research
|June 1, 1996
Abstract:
Spermine at physiological levels and ionic strength induces compaction and aggregation of SV40 DNA and minichromosomes resulting in marked radioprotection of the DNA against gamma-ray-induced formation of single-strand breaks. This phenomenon, termed the PICA effect, results in yields of single-strand breaks in DNA and minichromosomes comparable to those found with intact cells and is considered to be a major mechanism responsible for radioprotection of cellular DNA.