MONITORING OF INDUCED CHROMOSOMAL-ABERRATIONS IN SACCHAROMYCES-CEREVISIAE IN AGAROSE GELS BY PULSED-FIELD GEL-ELECTROPHORESIS

Pulsed field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) has been used to detect aberra tions of the chromosomal banding pattern referred to as chromosomal ab errations arising after treatment of yeast strain S, cerevisiae MP1 wi th the three different genotoxic substances 4-nitroquinoline-N-oxide ( 4-NQO), methotrexate (MTX) and 2-amino-6-mercaptopurine (AMP). Differe nt chromosomal aberrations were detectable directly in the pulsed fiel d gel when growing yeast cells were incubated with a genotoxin for 6 h at 26 degrees C followed by treatment with the genotoxin for another twelve days at 4 degrees C. In the present study, clones of yeast cell s were examined. In this way, distinct chromosomal aberrations and not only DNA smear could be detected. Moreover, this method allows select ion for yeast strains with specific and rare chromosomal rearrangement s.