甲醛对DNA损伤的彗星实验研究

甲醛是一种遗传毒性物质。国内外学者的大量研究证实,甲醛可以引起DNA-DNA、DNA-蛋白质分子交联,但对于甲醛是否能够引起DNA 分子的断裂,学界却存在分歧。本实验以颊黏膜细胞作为实验材料,通过彗星实验对甲醛的遗传毒性——尤其是DNA 分子断裂作用进行了系统的研究。结果显示甲醛在较低浓度(5μmol/L,7.5μmol/L,10μmol/L)时具有断裂作用,在较高浓度(15μmol/L,30μmol/L,50μmol/L)时则具有交联作用。根据本实验的结果,本文还首次论证了甲醛断裂作用的断裂峰值(7.5μmol/L)。     

用单细胞凝胶电泳技术检测粉纹夜蛾5BI细胞DNA损伤的研究

为了探测昆虫细胞的DNA损伤,本实验应用单细胞凝胶电泳技术,对不同剂量的过氧化氢和甲醛引起的粉纹夜蛾5BI细胞DNA损伤效应进行了研究,结果表明59μM=10μM、150μM的过氧化氢能引起粉纹夜蛾5BI细胞的DNA断裂,且断裂程度和浓度水平之间成正相关关系;10μM、30μM、50μM的甲醛能引起粉纹夜蛾5BI细胞DNA损伤,其中在10μM时引起DNA断裂,在30μM、50μM时引起DNA交联。     

甲醛致酵母菌与大肠杆菌DNA-蛋白质交联作用的比较

为了探讨甲醛致真核生物与原核生物DNA-蛋白质交联(DNA-protein crosslinks,DPC)的作用,以毕赤酵母(Pichia pastoris)和大肠杆菌(Escherichia coli)DH5α为材料,采用KCl-SDS沉淀法检测液态甲醛染毒后酵母菌与大肠杆菌中DPC含量。结果表明,低浓度(25μmol/L)甲醛不能引起酵母菌和大肠杆菌的DPC(P>0.05),而较高浓度(125和625μmol/L)甲醛可引起酵母菌和大肠杆菌明显的DPC(P<0.05);另外,酵母菌的DPC系数是大肠杆菌的DPC系数的10倍左右。这表明甲醛致真核细胞和原核细胞的DPC作用具有剂量效应关系,而且真核细胞的DPC系数比原核细胞的DPC系数更高。     

电压激活的钾通道阻断剂抑制山莨菪碱松弛去甲肾上腺素预收缩的兔主动脉平滑肌

研究显示,山莨菪碱预处理不改变高钾引起的兔主动脉环收缩,但可明显减弱去甲肾上腺素(noradrenaline,NA)、组织胺或5-羟色胺引起的收缩,且其减弱作用不受去除血管内皮影响。本实验观察了几种钾通道阻断剂对山良菪碱松弛：NA预收缩的兔主动脉环的影响。结果表明,1、3、10μmol／L山莨菪碱作用8min,可使0．01μmol／L NA预收缩的兔主动脉环松弛(P＜O．01)。10mmol／L,CsCl、1mmol／L 4-氨基吡啶、10μmol／L BaCl2、10μmol/L格列本脲、3μmol／L charybdotoxin和3μmol／L蜂毒明从分别与0．0lμmol／L NA同时加入,可增强后者收缩兔主动脉环的作用(P＜0．01)。10、30mmol／L CsCl或10、30mmol／L 4-氨基吡啶存在时,10μmol／L山茛菪碱对NA预收缩的兔主动脉环的松弛作用减弱,松弛率与对照组比较分别有极显著差异(P＜0．01);10、30μmol／L BaCl2,10、30μmol/L格列本脲,3μmol/L charybdotoxin或3μmol／L蜂毒明肽存在时,山莨菪碱对NA预收缩的兔主动脉环的松弛作用不受影响(P＞O．05)。本研究表明,电压激活的钾通道阻断剂抑制山莨菪碱松弛NA预收缩的兔主动脉平滑肌,初步提示血管平滑肌细胞膜上电压激活的钾通道参与山莨菪碱扩血管作用。     

银杏ISSR-PCR扩增反应体系的建立与优化

目的:为了对银杏进行分子鉴定和遗传关系的分析,建立银杏ISSR-PCR的最佳扩增反应体系。方法:采用正交设计和单因素梯度实验,对影响ISSR-PCR反应体系的5个主要因素(Mg2+、dNTP、引物、模板DNA及Taq DNA聚合酶)进行筛选及优化。结果:银杏25μL ISSR最佳扩增反应体系包含10×Taq反应缓冲液、2.5 mmol/L MgCl2、0.45 mmol/L dNTP、1.2μmol/L引物(UBC861)、10 ng模板DNA及0.9 U Taq DNA聚合酶,使用此ISSR扩增反应体系,获得了10株不同性别银杏DNA的清晰条带,验证了该体系的稳定性。结论:优化的反应体系为采用ISSR分子标记技术对银杏进行遗传多样性分析、遗传育种和转基因等研究奠定了一定的理论基础。     

酥瓜(Cucumis melo var. conomon Group)基因组DNA提取及RAPD分子标记反应体系的建立

本研究以改良的CTAB法提取酥瓜基因组DNA,利用正交设计L_(16)(4~5),对酥瓜RAPD-PCR反应体系的5个影响因素(引物,dNTPs,Taq DNA聚合酶,Mg~(2+)和模板DNA)在4个水平上进行优化试验,并在30~50℃范围内摸索退火温度,建立适合酥瓜RAPD-PCR反应体系。研究表明,在25μL反应体系中,含有引物0.8μmol/L、dNTPs 0.3μmol/L、Taq DNA聚合酶1 U、Mg~(2+)0.5 mmol/L、DNA模板30 ng为最佳反应体系,RAPD-PCR扩增程序中最佳退火温度为37.6℃。该体系有助于酥瓜种质资源的遗传多样性分析评价。     

苦丁茶冬青的RAPD影响因素及实验条件的优化

以苦丁茶冬青为材料研究随机扩增多态DNA(RAPD)的影响因素及各种实验条件优化。研究结果表明：模板DNA的浓度适宜范围为20ng／反应-80ng／反应RAPD均可得到一致的结果;dNTVs的适宜浓度范围为200μmol／L-400μmol／L;Mg^2 适宜浓度范围为1．5mmol／L-2．0mmol／L;其合适的复性温度为35—37℃;2min的延伸时间,45次热循环。按照此优化的RAPD条件进行重复实验,实验结果重现性良好,因而确定了苦丁茶冬青RAPD反应体系之最佳的实验条件。     

红树植物木榄SCoT-PCR体系优化及遗传多样性分析

为优化建立木榄的SCo T-PCR体系,利用建立的SCo T方法进行分析木榄不同地理种源的遗传多样性,基于L25(56)正交设计,本研究在5个水平上优化试验了5个影响木榄SCo T-PCR的因素:模板DNA、Mg~(2+)、d NTPs、Taq酶和引物。同时,运用优化的SCo T体系对木榄8个不同地理种源进行遗传多样性分析。本研究结果建立了木榄SCo T-PCR最佳反应体系(20μL):模板DNA 20 ng,引物0.75μmol/L,d NTPs 0.5 mmol/L,Mg~(2+)2.5 mmol/L,Taq酶1.25 U。同时,筛选出了带谱清晰、多态性丰富的16条SCo T引物进行遗传多样性分析。共扩增出115个位点,其中73个为多态性位点,多态性比例为62.33%。从UPGMA聚类和PCo A分析结果可以看出8个地理种源间的遗传多样性及亲缘关系。研究表明SCo T分子标记可以用于木榄种群的遗传多样性。     

咖啡因对大鼠背根神经节急性分离神经元GABA-激活电流的抑制作用

应用全细胞膜片钳记录技术,在大鼠新鲜分离背根神经节(dorsal root ganglion,DRG)神经元上,观察预加咖啡因对GABA-激活电流(IGABA)的调制作用。实验中,大部分受检细胞(97．4％,l13／116)对外加GABA敏感。1-1000μmol／L GABA引起一剂量依赖性、有明显上敏感作用的内向电流。在受检的108个DRG细胞中,约有半数(53．7％,58／108)对胞外加咖啡因(0．1-100μmol／L)敏感．产生一幅值很小的内向电流。倾加咖啡因(0．1～100μmol／L)30s后再加GABA能明显抑制GABA(100μmol／L)激活电流的幅值。预加咖啡因后GABA量效曲线明显下移;GABA-激活电流的最人值较之对照下降约57％;而Kd值(30μmol／L)几乎不变,表示此种抑制为非竞争性的。预加安定(diazepam,1μmol／L)对GABA(100μmol／L)激活电流有增强作用,而预加咖啡因(10μmol／L)有拈抗安定增强IGABA的作用。胞内透析H-8后,几乎可以完全消除咖啡因对,IGABA的抑制作用。已知GABA作用于初级感觉神经元能引起初级传入去极化,因而实验结果提示,咖啡因有可能在初级传入末梢产生对抗突触前抑制的效应。     

核因子-κB在HUVEC细胞凋亡信号通路中的作用

目的：探讨核因子-κB（NF-κB）在人脐静脉内皮细胞凋亡信号通路中的作用。方法：体外培养人脐静脉内皮细胞系（HUVEC）,实验分为正常对照组、AngⅡ组和Gliotoxin干预组。应用改良MTF法,观察0．01μmol／L、0．1μmol／L、μmol／L和10μmol／L4种浓度的AngⅡ在不同时间对HUVEC细胞活性的影响。应用DNA凝胶电泳和流式细胞术检测AngⅡ作用于细胞后引起细胞凋亡的情况。应用免疫细胞化学技术检测NF-κB p65的核移位,评价NF-KB活化情况。结果：10μmol／L AngⅡ作用于细胞24h时,细胞活性下降,DNA凝胶电泳和流式细胞结果提示细胞发生凋亡,凋亡细胞率明显高于正常对照组,差异具有统计学意义（P〈0．05）,0．1mg／L Gliotoxin可拮抗AngⅡ的细胞抑制活性作用;免疫细胞化学技术显示,HUVEC细胞经AugⅡ诱导后,NF-κB出现明显核移位现象,提示NF-κB发生活化;Gliotoxin明显抑制NF-κB活化,与AngⅡ组相比,差异有统计学意义（P〈0．05）。结论：①ArcⅡ可引起HU—VEC细胞发生凋亡;而NF-κB特异性抑制剂Ghotoxin能够拮抗AngⅡ对HUVEC细胞的作用;②NF-κB可能是AngⅡ调控HUVEC细胞生存／凋亡通路中的重要信号转导分子。     

60 Hz magnetic field exposure induces DNA crosslinks in rat brain cells

In previous research, we found an increase in DNA strand breaks in brain cells of rats acutely exposed to a 60 Hz magnetic field (for 2 h at an intensity of 0.5 mT). DNA strand breaks were measured with a microgel electrophoresis assay using the length of DNA migration as an index. In the present experiment, we found that most of the magnetic field-induced increase in DNA migration was observed only after proteinase-K treatment, suggesting that the field caused DNA-protein crosslinks. In addition, when brain cells from control rats were exposed to X-rays, an increase in DNA migration was observed, the extent of which was independent of proteinase-K treatment. However, the X-ray-induced increase in DNA migration was retarded in cells from animals exposed to magnetic fields even after proteinase-K treatment, suggesting that DNA-DNA crosslinks were also induced by the magnetic field. The effects of magnetic fields were also compared with those of a known DNA crosslink-inducing agent mitomycin C. The pattern of effects is similar between the two agents. These data suggest that both DNA-protein and DNA-DNA crosslinks are formed in brain cells of rats after acute exposure to a 60 Hz magnetic field.     

DNA damage induced by carcinogenic lead chromate particles in cultured mammalian cells.

Particulate lead chromate is a highly water-insoluble cytotoxic and carcinogenic agent, but its mechanism of action remains obscure. We investigated its effects on DNA damage in CHO cells after a 24-h exposure using alkaline or neutral filter elution and cytogenetic studies. Concentrations (0.08, 0.4 and 0.8 micrograms/cm2), which reduced the colony-forming efficiency of CHO cells to 94, 50 and 10%, respectively, produced dose-dependent DNA single-strand breaks and DNA-protein crosslinks, but no DNA double-strand breaks or DNA-DNA crosslinks were observed. The single-strand breaks were absent from cells given a 24-h recovery period after removal of the treatment medium, even though most of the particles remained adhered to cells and to the culture dish. In contrast, both the DNA-protein crosslinks and chromosomal aberrations persisted even after the 24-h recovery period. These results suggest that the mechanism of the particle-induced early DNA single-strand breaks may be different from DNA-protein crosslinks and the lesions leading to chromosomal aberrations, or alternatively, that the repair of single-strand breaks is more efficient than the repair of DNA-protein crosslinks in the unavoidable continuing presence of carcinogen. These results also suggest that the chromosome damage may be related to the persistent DNA-protein crosslinks, and further confirm the genotoxic activity of carcinogenic lead chromate particles.     

Analysis of chromate-induced DNA-protein crosslinks with the comet assay

Modifications of the comet assay have been introduced to measure crosslinks by determining the reduction of induced DNA migration. Our previous results indicated that the modified protocol of the alkaline comet assay is a sensitive tool for the detection of formaldehyde-induced DNA-protein crosslinks. But results for mitomycin C and cisplatin suggested that the modified protocol is not well suited for the evaluation of DNA-DNA crosslinkers. We now used the comet assay to investigate in V79 cells the effect of potassium chromate (K(2)CrO(4)), another DNA-protein crosslinker, to see whether the results obtained for formaldehyde can be generalized. However, chromate did not reduce spontaneous or radiation-induced DNA migration in the alkaline (pH 13) comet assay but led to a small but significant induction of DNA migration. A crosslinking effect of chromate could also not be detected with the alkaline comet assay after postincubation of cells in normal medium after chromate treatment to enable repair of other (migration-inducing) lesions that might mask the crosslinking effect. Exposure of slides to proteinase K further increased DNA migration of chromate-treated cells, thus indicating the presence of DNA-protein crosslinks. In contrast to the alkaline comet assay, a "neutral" version at pH 9 was suited to demonstrate reduced induction of DNA migration after gamma-irradiation of chromate-treated cells. The crosslinking effect was seen immediately at the end of the chromate treatment as well as after a 3h postincubation period. Using the "neutral" protocol in combination with proteinase K, we were able to demonstrate the presence of DNA-protein crosslinks as the probable cause for the migration-reducing effect. Further investigations will have to show whether this protocol can be recommended as a universal approach for the detection of DNA-protein crosslinks and also of DNA-DNA crosslinks with the comet assay.     

The effect of bromodeoxyuridine and ultraviolet light on 9L rat brain tumor cells

Incorporation of the thymidine analog bromodeoxyuridine (BrdUrd) into DNA increases the sensitivity of a cell to uv light. We have examined the effect of uv light on cell killing and alkaline elution profiles in 9L rat brain tumor cells pretreated with BrdUrd. Combination treatment with BrdUrd and uv irradiation produced a dose enhancement ratio of 3.8 at the 10% survival level compared with uv-radiated control cells; cell killing depended on both the time of treatment and the concentration of BrdUrd used for incubation. Sequential treatment caused single-strand breaks and DNA-protein crosslinks in the portion of DNA containing BrdUrd; uv irradiation alone caused very few strand breaks and no DNA-protein crosslinks. Because of the presence of both lesions in cells treated with BrdUrd and uv light, it was possible to calculate crosslinking factors without using a charging X-ray dose to induce strand breaks, the method commonly used with crosslinking drugs. Results of repair studies suggested that single-strand breaks are repaired more rapidly than are DNA-protein crosslinks.     

Qualitative and quantitative aspects of intercalator-induced DNA strand breaks.

The intercalating agents, adriamycin and ellipticine, were previously found to produce DNA strand breaks associated with DNA-protein crosslinks in mouse leukemia L1210 cells. The current work explores the nature of the agents that produce this effect and the quantitative relationship between the breaks and crosslinks. The protein-associated DNA breaks were produced by a wide variety of intercalators in addition to the above-mentioned compounds: actinomycin D, daunoycin, ethidium and lucanthone (miracil D). Treatment with several drugs that bind to DNA without intercalation, or that inhibit DNA synthesis without binding to DNA, did not cause DNA breaks. The strand break and crosslink frequencies were quantitated by means of alkaline elution methods. The strand break and crosslink frequencies were found to be within a factor of 2 of each other over a range of concentrations of adriamycin and ellipticine. It is proposed that intercalation-induced distortion of the DNA helix leads to strand scission by a nuclease which becomes bound to one terminus of the break so as to form a DNA-protein crosslink.     

Free radicals-mediated induction of oxidized DNA bases and DNA-protein cross-links by nickel chloride

Using the comet assay, we showed that nickel chloride at 250-1000 microM induced DNA damage in human lymphocytes, measured as the change in comet tail moment, which increased with nickel concentration up to 500 microM and then decreased. Observed increase might follow from the induction of strand breaks or/and alkali-labile sites (ALS) by nickel, whereas decrease from its induction of DNA-DNA and/or DNA-protein cross-links. Proteinase K caused an increase in the tail moment, suggesting that nickel chloride at 1000 microM might cross-link DNA with nuclear proteins. Lymphocytes exposed to NiCl(2) and treated with enzymes recognizing oxidized and alkylated bases: endonuclease III (Endo III), formamidopyrimidine-DNA glycosylase (Fpg) and 3-methyladenine-DNA glycosylase II (AlkA), displayed greater extent of DNA damage than those not treated with these enzymes, indicating the induction of oxidized and alkylated bases by nickel. The incubation of lymphocytes with spin traps, 5,5-dimethyl-pyrroline N-oxide (DMPO) and PBN decreased the extent of DNA damage, which might follow from the production of free radicals by nickel. The pre-treatment with Vitamin C at 10 microM and Vitamin E at 25 microM decreased the tail moment of the cells exposed to NiCl(2) at the concentrations of the metal causing strand breaks or/and ALS. The results obtained suggest that free radicals may be involved in the formation of strand breaks or/and ALS in DNA as well as DNA-protein cross-links induced by NiCl(2). Nickel chloride can also alkylate DNA bases. Our results support thesis on multiple, free radicals-based genotoxicity pathways of nickel.     

Measurements of alkali-labile DNA damage and protein-DNA crosslinks after 2450 MHz microwave and low-dose gamma irradiation in vitro

In vitro experiments were performed to determine whether 2450 MHz microwave radiation induces alkali-labile DNA damage and/or DNA-protein or DNA-DNA crosslinks in C3H 10T(1/2) cells. After a 2-h exposure to either 2450 MHz continuous-wave (CW) microwaves at an SAR of 1.9 W/kg or 1 mM cisplatinum (CDDP, a positive control for DNA crosslinks), C3H 10T(1/2) cells were irradiated with 4 Gy of gamma rays ((137)Cs). Immediately after gamma irradiation, the single-cell gel electrophoresis assay was performed to detect DNA damage. For each exposure condition, one set of samples was treated with proteinase K (1 mg/ml) to remove any possible DNA-protein crosslinks. To measure DNA-protein crosslinks independent of DNA-DNA crosslinks, we quantified the proteins that were recovered with DNA after microwave exposure, using CDDP and gamma irradiation, positive controls for DNA-protein crosslinks. Ionizing radiation (4 Gy) induced significant DNA damage. However, no DNA damage could be detected after exposure to 2450 MHz CW microwaves alone. The crosslinking agent CDDP significantly reduced both the comet length and the normalized comet moment in C3H 10T(1/2) cells irradiated with 4 Gy gamma rays. In contrast, 2450 MHz microwaves did not impede the DNA migration induced by gamma rays. When control cells were treated with proteinase K, both parameters increased in the absence of any DNA damage. However, no additional effect of proteinase K was seen in samples exposed to 2450 MHz microwaves or in samples treated with the combination of microwaves and radiation. On the other hand, proteinase K treatment was ineffective in restoring any migration of the DNA in cells pretreated with CDDP and irradiated with gamma rays. When DNA-protein crosslinks were specifically measured, we found no evidence for the induction of DNA-protein crosslinks or changes in amount of the protein associated with DNA by 2450 MHz CW microwave exposure. Thus 2-h exposures to 1.9 W/ kg of 2450 MHz CW microwaves did not induce measurable alkali-labile DNA damage or DNA-DNA or DNA-protein crosslinks.     

Discrimination between genotoxicity and cytotoxicity for the induction of DNA double-strand breaks in cells treated with aldehydes and diepoxides

The time-dependent dose-response relationships for the induction of DNA double-strand breaks (DSB) assessed by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) and for viability (evaluated by the MTT cytotoxicity test) were investigated in order to discriminate between genotoxic and cytotoxic mechanisms of DNA fragmentation. Cultured human lung epithelial cells (A549) were treated (i) with the aldehydes formaldehyde or glutaraldehyde and (ii) with the DNA-DNA interstrand crosslinkers melphalan, diepoxybutane or diepoxyoctane. Induction of DSB by formaldehyde and glutaraldehyde was seen only after cell viability was reduced to less than about 60% of the control values, indicating that DSB were the consequence of extragenomic damage and viability loss. Melphalan, diepoxybutane and diepoxyoctane induced DSB by a genotoxic mode with concentrations that did not affect cell survival: 8 h after treatment initiation both heat-labile crosslinks and DSB could be detected. Cells were not able to repair the crosslinks induced by diepoxybutane, the crosslinker with the shortest chain length. In contrast, with melphalan and diepoxyoctane, which have a longer crosslinking property considerable repair of crosslinks was observed. The molecular size distribution of the produced DNA fragments supported this mechanistic distinction. The DNA fragments generated by diepoxides were initially large, their concentration decreasing monotonously from 7 Mbp to less than 1 Mbp and were converted to smaller fragments by 72 h in the course of cell death. In contrast, DNA fragments induced by formaldehyde peaked below 1 Mbp, implicating activation of DNA-degrading enzymes.     

Immunodetection of DNA-protein crosslinks by slot blotting

Ultraviolet light, formaldehyde, cis-diamminedichloroplatinum(II), chromate (Cr6+), or chromium chloride (Cr3+) under the appropriate conditions caused the formation of DNA-protein crosslinks in intact Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells or in cell nuclei. The DNA-protein crosslinks were isolated, applied to nitrocellulose filters, and reacted with antibodies to nuclear proteins. An antiserum to a 97-kD nuclear protein detected p97-DNA complexes in CHO nuclei and cell cultures treated with UV light, cis-Pt and formaldehyde. Exposure to Cr3+ induced p97-DNA crosslinks only in isolated nuclei, while chromate (Cr6+) treatment resulted in significant crosslink formation only in intact cells. Analysis of western blots with the p97 antiserum indicated that crosslinks induced by formaldehyde or ultraviolet light required DNAase I digestion of DNA for migration of the p97 complexes into the gel. In contrast, the 97-kD antigen from the metal-induced crosslinks was released from DNA and resolved in the gel when 2-mercaptoethanol was included in the electrophoresis sample buffer. Assay of slot blots with an antihistone monoclonal antibody indicated that formaldehyde, but not cis-Pt or chromate, crosslinked histones to the DNA. These results illustrate the utility of immuno-slot blots in detecting and characterizing DNA-protein complexes induced by diverse chemical and physical agents.     

In vitro genotoxicity of lead acetate: induction of single and double DNA strand breaks and DNA-protein cross-links

Lead is present in the natural and occupational environment and is reported to interact with DNA, but the mechanism of this interaction is not fully understood. Using the alkaline comet assay we showed that lead acetate at 1-100 microM induced DNA damage in isolated human lymphocytes measured the change in the comet tail length. At 1 and 10 microM we observed an increase in the tail length, whereas at 100 microM a decrease was seen. The former effect could follow from the induction of DNA strand breaks and/or alkali-labile sites (ALS), the latter from the formation of DNA-DNA and/or DNA-protein cross-links. No difference was observed between tail length for the alkaline and pH 12.1 versions of the assay, which indicates that strand breaks and not ALS are responsible for the tail length increase induced by lead. The neutral version of the test revealed that lead acetate induced DNA double-strand breaks at all concentrations tested. The presence of spin traps, 5,5-dimethyl-pyrroline N-oxide (DMPO) and N-tert-butyl-alpha-phenylnitrone (PBN) did not influence the level of DNA damage induced by lead. Post-treatment of the lead-damaged DNA (at 100 microM treatment concentration) by endonuclease III (Endo III) and formamidopyrimidine-DNA glycosylase (Fpg), enzymes recognizing oxidized DNA bases, as well as 3-methyladenine-DNA glycosylase II, an enzyme recognizing alkylated bases, gave rise to a significant increase in the extent of DNA damage. Proteinase K caused an increase in comet tail length, suggesting that lead acetate might cross-link DNA with nuclear proteins. Vitamin A, E, C, calcium chloride and zinc chloride acted synergistically on DNA damage evoked by lead. The results obtained suggest that lead acetate may induce single-strand breaks (SSB) and double-strand breaks (DSB) in DNA as well as DNA-protein cross-links. The participation of free radicals in DNA-damaging potential of lead is not important and it concerns other reactive species than could be trapped by DMPO or PBN.