Comparison of Endonuclease-Sensitive Sites by T4 Endonuclease V and UvrABC Nuclease Treatments Followed by Formamide or Sodium Hydroxide Denaturation

Endonuclease-sensitive sites detected by T4 endonuclease V or UvrABC nuclease treatments were compared in the dihydrofolate reductase gene of UV-irradiated Chinese hamster ovary B-11 cells. The number of endonuclease-sensitive sites detected by T4 endonuclease V treatment followed by NaOH denaturation was twice that of formamide denaturation. Repeated treatment of damaged genomic DNA with T4 endonuclease V resulted in no further increase in the number of endonuclease-sensitive sites detected. The numbers of endonuclease-sensitive sites detected by UvrABC nuclease using each denaturation condition were similar. Sequential treatment with the two endonucleases using formamide denaturation resulted in twice the number of endonuclease-sensitive sites detected by treatment of each nuclease alone. Due to a lack of AP endonuclease activity these results suggest the presence of T4 endonuclease V-sensitive sites which could be complemented by alkaline gel separation or by UvrABC nuclease treatment.