DNA polymerase delta mediates increase in exchange production by X-radiation in human lymphocytes moving from G0 to G1.

Earlier work of several laboratories established that the yields of radiation-induced ring and dicentric chromosomes are greater when human peripheral blood lymphocytes are irradiated in GH1 some hours after phytohemagglutinin stimulation than if they are irradiated in G0 before stimulation. Post-treatment of lymphocytes irradiated in G0 with the DNA polymerase inhibitor aphidicolin, which is effective against both pol alpha and pol delta, produces a similar increase in ring and dicentric yield. We found that aphidicolin post-treatment was much less effective in increasing ring and dicentric yield increases in cells irradiated in G1 four to five hours after stimulation. Because we had earlier found specific inhibitors of DNA pol alpha ineffective in producing increased yields in either G0 or G1 lymphocytes, we conclude that much of the G0 to G1 increase in yields is mediated by pol delta.