Normal DNA strand rejoining and absence of DNA crosslinking in progeroid and aging human cells.

We have measured by alkaline elution and alkaline sedimentation the rate of rejoining of X-ray induced DNA single-strand breaks in terminally senescent cultured WI-38 cells. Using the alkaline elution method, we have also measured the rate of ligation in cultured progeroid cells. In both cells and by both methods of measurement the rates of strand rejoining were normal. Alkaline elution failed to disclose any DNA crosslinking in these cells.