Synergistic action of cysteamine and BrdU-substituted DNA in the induction of sister chromatid exchanges.

The effect of different BrdU-concentrations on the cysteamine-induced SCE-rate was investigated in V-79 Chinese hamster cell monolayer cultures. Both cysteamine and its auto-oxidation product cystamine act synergistically with BrdU in the induction of SCEs. A given concentration of these substances produces a low SCE-frequency at low BrdU-concentrations -- but the incidence of SCEs is significantly increased at increased BrdU-concentrations. -- Using one-cycle substitution experiments and the determination of the relative level of substitution by means of 3HBrdU-incorporation, this synergism was shown to depend on the BrdU incorporated in the DNA and on the extent to which this incorporation takes place.