DNA-lesion mapping in mammalian cells

Methods. 2009 May;48(1):35-9. doi: 10.1016/j.ymeth.2009.02.008. Epub 2009 Feb 24.

Abstract

Formation of DNA damage is a crucial event in carcinogenesis. Irreparable DNA lesions have the potential to cause mispairing during DNA replication, thereby giving rise to mutations. Critically important mutations in cancer-related genes, i.e., oncogenes and tumor suppressor genes, are key contributors to carcinogenesis. Theoretically, co-localization(s) of persistent DNA lesions and mutational hotspots in cancer-relevant genes can be used for causality inference. The inferred causality can be validated if a suspected carcinogen can similarly produce corresponding patterns of DNA damage and mutagenesis in vitro and/or in vivo. DNA-lesion footprinting (mapping) in conjunction with mutagenicity analysis is used for investigating cancer etiology. Ligation-mediated polymerase chain reaction (LM-PCR) is a versatile DNA-lesion footprinting technique, which enables sensitive and specific detection of DNA damage, at the level of nucleotide resolution, in genomic DNA. Here, we describe an updated protocol for LM-PCR analysis of the mammalian genome. This protocol can routinely be used for DNA-lesion footprinting of a variety of chemical and/or physical carcinogens in mammalian cells.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Base Pairing
  • Base Sequence
  • Carcinogens / toxicity
  • Cell Transformation, Neoplastic / chemically induced
  • Cell Transformation, Neoplastic / genetics
  • Cells*
  • DNA / genetics
  • DNA Adducts / analysis
  • DNA Damage*
  • DNA Footprinting / methods*
  • DNA Ligases / metabolism*
  • DNA Mutational Analysis
  • DNA Primers
  • Genes, p53
  • Genome, Human
  • Humans
  • Mammals
  • Mutagenesis
  • Mutation / drug effects
  • Nucleic Acid Amplification Techniques
  • Polymerase Chain Reaction / methods*
  • Pyrimidine Dimers / radiation effects
  • Reproducibility of Results
  • Sensitivity and Specificity
  • Sequence Analysis, DNA
  • Templates, Genetic
  • Ultraviolet Rays

Substances

  • Carcinogens
  • DNA Adducts
  • DNA Primers
  • Pyrimidine Dimers
  • DNA
  • DNA Ligases