Analysis of the induction of alkali sensitive sites in the DNA by chromate and other agents that induce single strand breaks.

CaCrO4 was shown to induce alkali labile sites in the DNA of Chinese hamster ovary cells by analysis of the lack of linearity in the alkaline elution curves, and by a study of the dependence upon pH in the elution of DNA from filters. The effect of CaCrO4 on these parameters was compared with N-methyl-N-nitrosourea, an agent known to produce alkali labile sites. Based upon the aforementioned parameters HgCl2, formaldehyde and X-rays caused the formation of frank single strand breaks with little or no induction of alkaline labile sites. These findings demonstrate differences in the production of alkali sensitive sites by agents that cause DNA single strand breaks.