PCR and Mammalian Cell Selection Assays for Short-Term Genotoxicity Testing Background.

Abstract

In order to develop an extremely sensitive test for chemicals that induce chromosomal rearrangements, a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay has been optimized for the single- molecule detection of a translocation-containing human DNA sequence. We have used this assay for rearrangements between the bcl-2 proto-oncogene and the JH immunoglobulin gene region to test for this lymphoma-associated translocation in genotoxin-treated cultured cells and in peripheral blood mononuclear cells. Our most important findings from this study are that approximately half of healthy adults contain this translocation in their blood at levels detectable with our ultrasensitive assay; that there is an age-related increase in the frequency of this translocation; and that some individuals have much higher levels of this translocation than their age-mates. This may reflect environmentally hazardous exposures or genetic defects and an increased risk of developing cancer.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Sep 01, 1996
Accession Number
ADA317280

Entities

People

  • Melanie Ehrlich

Organizations

  • Tulane University of Louisiana

Tags

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Cells
  • Chain Reactions
  • Chemical Reactions
  • Cultured Cells
  • Detection
  • Frequency
  • Genotoxicity
  • Immunogenetic Phenomena
  • Immunoglobulins
  • Molecules
  • Polymerase Chain Reaction
  • Sequences

Fields of Study

  • Biology

Readers

  • Immunology
  • Molecular Genetics
  • Molecular and genetic basis of cancer.

Technology Areas

  • Biotechnology
  • Biotechnology - Cancer Biotech