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PYRIMIDINE DIMER FORMATION IN HUMAN SKIN
Author(s) -
Freeman Steven E.,
Gange Richard W.,
Sutherland John C.,
Sutherland Betsy M.
Publication year - 1987
Publication title -
photochemistry and photobiology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.818
H-Index - 131
eISSN - 1751-1097
pISSN - 0031-8655
DOI - 10.1111/j.1751-1097.1987.tb04758.x
Subject(s) - pyrimidine dimer , dimer , human skin , dna , pyrimidine , photochemistry , ultraviolet , chemistry , irradiation , erythema , dna damage , ultraviolet radiation , biophysics , dermatology , biology , biochemistry , radiochemistry , materials science , genetics , medicine , organic chemistry , optoelectronics , physics , nuclear physics
Cyclobutyl pyrimidine dimers are major photoproducts formed upon irradiation of DNA with ultraviolet light. We have developed a method for detecting as few as one pyrimidine dimer per million bases in about 50 ng of non‐radioactive DNA, and have used this method to quantitate dimer yields in human skin DNA exposed in situ to UV. We found that UVA radiation (320–400 nm) produces detectable levels of dimers in the DNA of human skin. We also measured UVB‐induced dimer yields in skin of individuals of differing sun sensitivity and found higher yields in individuals with higher UVB minimal erythema doses and greater sun sensitivity. These approaches should provide important information on damage induced in human skin upon exposure to natural or artificial sources of ultraviolet radiation.