PURPOSE: A simple, sensitive and novel method was developed to screen out potential agents able to protect functional activity of DNA ligase against gamma irradiation-induced damage. Repeatability, authenticity and sensitivity of the method was verified by analyzing DNA ligase protecting activities of well-known radioprotectors such as amifostine, trolox, melatonin, semiquinone glucoside derivative (SQGD) and an antioxidant gallic acid in extremely low concentration (1 μg/reaction). MATERIAL AND METHODS: Two different sets (Set A and B) of T4 DNA ligase (1 unit/set) were prepared. Set 'A' (negative control) was exposed to different doses (3-5 kGy) of gamma radiation in the absence of radioprotective compounds. Set B (test) was exposed to similar doses of gamma radiation in the presence of radioprotective compounds. Following irradiation, DNA ligase was mixed with λ DNA (250 ng) pre-digested with Hind III restriction endonuclease. Ligation reaction was performed in both sets simultaneously at 22°C for 20 min and reaction product was analyzed using agarose gel electrophoresis. RESULTS: Complete DNA ligation was observed in samples where DNA ligase was irradiated in the presence of radioprotectective compounds, i.e., amifostine, trolox, melatonin and a natural radioprotector semiquinone glucoside derivative (SQGD) individually, while, functional impairment in ligation activity of DNA ligase was evident in samples in which DNA ligase was irradiated in the absence of a radioprotective compound. CONCLUSION: The current method was able to provide significant input to screen out radioprotective compounds able to protect DNA ligase functional activity against gamma radiation-induced functional impairment.
PURPOSE: A simple, sensitive and novel method was developed to screen out potential agents able to protect functional activity of DNA ligase against gamma irradiation-induced damage. Repeatability, authenticity and sensitivity of the method was verified by analyzing DNA ligase protecting activities of well-known radioprotectors such as amifostine, trolox, melatonin, semiquinone glucoside derivative (SQGD) and an antioxidant gallic acid in extremely low concentration (1 μg/reaction). MATERIAL AND METHODS: Two different sets (Set A and B) of T4 DNA ligase (1 unit/set) were prepared. Set 'A' (negative control) was exposed to different doses (3-5 kGy) of gamma radiation in the absence of radioprotective compounds. Set B (test) was exposed to similar doses of gamma radiation in the presence of radioprotective compounds. Following irradiation, DNA ligase was mixed with λ DNA (250 ng) pre-digested with Hind III restriction endonuclease. Ligation reaction was performed in both sets simultaneously at 22°C for 20 min and reaction product was analyzed using agarose gel electrophoresis. RESULTS: Complete DNA ligation was observed in samples where DNA ligase was irradiated in the presence of radioprotectective compounds, i.e., amifostine, trolox, melatonin and a natural radioprotector semiquinone glucoside derivative (SQGD) individually, while, functional impairment in ligation activity of DNA ligase was evident in samples in which DNA ligase was irradiated in the absence of a radioprotective compound. CONCLUSION: The current method was able to provide significant input to screen out radioprotective compounds able to protect DNA ligase functional activity against gamma radiation-induced functional impairment.