The genetic implications of u.v. light exposure and liquid-holding post-treatment in the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae

Abstract

After liquid-holding treatment in saline, cultures of yeast exposed to u.v. light showed an increased resistance to a second exposure to u.v. irradiation. This increase in resistance during a second series of u.v. exposures was correlated with an increase in the induction of intragenic recombinants. In contrast, no increase in the frequency of the intergenic recombinants or mutations to prototrophy could be detected during the second u.v. dose range. The results obtained could not be explained by the induction of meiosis during liquid holding or by changes in the timing of cell division after u.v. exposure. A model of u.v. repair in yeast is postulated in which liquid-holding treatment results in changes in the proportions of lesions repaired by excision repair and recombination repair (respectively). © 1972, Cambridge University Press. All rights reserved.