RAPID DEAE DISK ASSAY FOR PHOTOREACTIVATION OF PYRIMIDINE DIMERS IN [DNA-H-3

We have developed a rapid, sensitive, and specific assay for photoreactivation of pyrimidine dimers in 3H-labeled DNA. It is based on the nuclease resistance of dimercontaining sequences in DNA, and the adsorption of these sequences to DEAE-substituted paper (DE-81). The method maintains the advantages of the rapid dimer assay of B. M. Sutherland and M. J. Chamberlin (1973, Anal. Biochem., 53, 168-176), while avoiding its major drawback, the frequent preparation of high specific activity, 32P-labeled, bacteriophage DNA. In addition, the use of scintillation spectrometry in our assay should allow more widespread use of this method. © 1979.