ESSENTIAL ROLE OF POLYAMINES IN RESTORATION OF DNA-SYNTHESIS AFTER UV-RADIATION AND EXPRESSION OF UV RESISTANCE IN COCKAYNE-SYNDROME CELLS

Activity of ornithine decarboxylase (ODC) in Cockayne syndrome (CS) ce lls which were characterized by a delay of the recovery of DNA synthes is after 254 nm ultraviolet Light (UV) radiation was extremely inhibit ed by UV, followed by a progressive decrease of putrescine. When putre scine was added in the cultures, CS cells showed a rapid recovery in D NA synthesis and also an expression of UV-resistance as seen in normal cells. Thus, ODC induction system of CS cells is highly sensitive to UV. Considering current hot spots in DNA repair, our results probably reflect a defect of preferentially rapid repair in ODC gene of CS cell s. (C) 1994 Academic Press, Inc.