Hyperresistance to DNA damaging agents in yeast.

In order to study resistance to DNA damaging agents, yeast DNA segments conferring hyperresistance in this organism to such genotoxic agents were selected for among yeast cells transformed by a yeast genome library based on the multi-copy vector plasmid YEp13. Genetic variants hyperresistant to 4-nitroquinoline-N-oxide, formaldehyde, and alkylating agents were isolated and the respective hyperresistance determinants shown to co-segregate with the vector plasmid. Phenotypical characterization indicated different degrees of resistance, few cases of cross-resistance and differing structural stability of the cloned DNA. By transfer to E. coli and subsequent retransformation of yeast a number of plasmids was shown to stably carry the genetic information for hyperresistance.