MUTAGENIC EFFECT OF SENSITIZED IRRADIATION OF BACTERIOPHAGE T4

The mutagenic behavior of thymine dimers has been studied using a sensitization technique to produce the dimers in the DNA of bacteriophage T4. Measurement of the rates of induction of r mutants and the classification of the rII mutants by reversion analysis has yielded the same results for both direct ultraviolet light and sensitization. These experiments indicate that thymine dimers can act as premutational lesions for mutants of both the transition and frameshift types. Furthermore, other lesions induced by direct ultraviolet light must be mutagenic. © 1969.