The induction of SCE and chromosomal aberrations with relation to specific base methylation of DNA in Chinese hamster cells by N-methyl-N-nitrosourea and dimethyl sulphate.

Chinese hamster cells (V79) were treated, either as exponentially proliferating cultures or under conditions where they were density-inhibited, with various doses of the potent carcinogen N-methyl-N-nitrosourea (MNU) or the relatively weak carcinogen dimethylsulphate (DMS). The colony forming ability of these cells and the induced frequencies of sister chromatid exchanges (SCEs) and chromosomal aberrations were assayed. Following the exposure of density-inhibited cells to radio-labelled methylating agents (labelled in the methyl group) these phenomena were related to the levels of 7-methylguanine (7-meGua), O6-methylguanine (O6-meGua) and 3-methyladenine (3-me-Ade) in the DNA. At equitoxic doses MNU and DMS induced similar frequencies of SCEs and chromosomal aberrations. Since, at equitoxic doses, MNU produces approximately 20 times more O6-meGua in V79 cell DNA than does DMS, this indicates that the formation of O6-meGua in DNA is not a major cause of SCEs and chromosomal aberrations. DMS-induced SCEs may be mediated via the production of both 3-meAde and 7-meGua in the DNA; these two methylated purines may also be responsible for MNU-induced SCEs. Therefore, no one specific methylated purine was identified as being solely accountable for the formation of SCEs. Also, the repair of lesions in the DNA of non-replicating V79 cells leads to a reduction in the SCE frequency on their subsequent release from the density-inhibited state, suggesting that repair is not intimately responsible for their formation. No association was discernable between chromosomal aberrations and any of the three methylated purines studied.