High-speed chromosome sorting.

Dual-beam high-speed sorting has been developed to facilitate purification of chromosomes based on DNA staining with the fluorescent dyes Hoechst 33258 and chromomycin A3. Approximately 200 chromosomes per second of two types can be sorted from a suspension of chromosomes isolated from human lymphoblasts while fluorescent objects (chromosomes, debris fragments, chromosome clumps, and nuclei) are processed at the rate of about 20,000 per second. This sorting rate is approximately ten times that possible with conventional sorters. Chromosomes of a single type can be sorted with a purity of about 90 percent. DNA from the sorted chromosomes is suitable for construction of recombinant DNA libraries and for gene mapping.

Recombination and ligation of transfected DNA in CHO mutant EM9, which has high levels of sister chromatid exchange.

Transformation frequencies were measured in CHO mutant EM9 after transfection with intact or modified plasmid pSV2-gpt. The mutant and wild-type strain behaved similarly under all conditions except when homologous recombination was required to produce an intact plasmid. Therefore, the defect of the mutant which renders it slow in DNA strand break rejoining and high in sister chromatid exchange induction reduces its ability to recombine foreign DNA molecules.

Deletion and amplification of the HGPRT locus in Chinese hamster cells.

Somatic cell selective techniques and hybridization analyses with a cloned cDNA probe were used to isolate and identify Chinese hamster cell lines in which the X-linked gene for hypoxanthine-guanine phosphoribosyltransferase (HGPRT) has been altered. Two of 19 HGPRT-deficient mutants selected were found to have major DNA deletions affecting the HGPRT locus. Cytogenetic studies revealed that the X chromosome of each deletion mutant had undergone a translocation event, whereas those from the remaining 17 mutants were normal. Phenotypic revertants of the thermosensitive HGPRT mutant RJK526 were isolated, and amplification of the mutant allele was shown to be the predominant mechanism of reversion. Comparisons of restriction enzyme fragments of DNA from deletion versus amplification strains identified two regions of the Chinese hamster genome that contained homology to the cDNA probe. One was shown to be much larger than the 1,600-nucleotide mRNA for HGPRT and to be comprised of linked fragments that contained the functional HGPRT gene. The second was neither transcribed nor tightly linked to the functional gene. These initial studies of HGPRT alterations at the level of DNA thus identified molecular mechanisms of phenotypic variation.

DNA-mediated transfer of a human DNA repair gene that controls sister chromatid exchange.

The Chinese hamster cell line mutant EM9, which has a reduced ability to repair DNA strand breaks, is noted for its highly elevated frequency of sister chromatid exchange, a property shared with cells from individuals with Bloom's syndrome. The defect in EM9 cells was corrected by fusion hybridization with normal human fibroblasts and by transfection with DNA from hybrid cells. The transformants showed normalization of sister chromatid exchange frequency but incomplete correction of the repair defect in terms of chromosomal aberrations produced by 5-bromo-2'-deoxyuridine.

Relationship between cytotoxicity and site-specific DNA recombination after in vitro exposure of leukemia cells to etoposide.

BACKGROUND: Etoposide, an inhibitor of the normal religation activity of the nuclear enzyme topoisomerase II, can induce a secondary acute myeloid leukemia characterized by site-specific DNA rearrangements. The schedule of drug administration appears to be a clinical risk factor for this devastating treatment complication. PURPOSE: We tested the hypothesis that prolonged exposure of leukemia cells in vitro to low concentrations of etoposide, compared with short exposures to high concentrations, could produce equivalent or greater desired cytotoxic effects, with decreased occurrence of undesired site-specific double-stranded DNA recombinational events (i.e., recombinogenesis). METHODS: We used the frequency of V(D)J (variable-diversity-joining) recombinase-mediated deletions of exons 2 and 3 of the hypoxanthine phosphoribosyltransferase (HPRT) gene as a biomarker of etoposide-induced, nonhomologous, site-specific DNA rearrangement. A polymerase chain reaction-based technique was used to measure exon 2 + 3 deletions in human lymphoid leukemia CCRF-CEM cells 6 days after either 4-hour or 24-hour treatment with etoposide at clinically relevant concentrations. Cytotoxic effects of etoposide (determined by the number of viable cells present in the treated compared with the control [i.e., untreated] cells) were measured 6 days after treatment of the cells. The frequency of the exon 2 + 3 deletion following the two treatment-duration conditions was compared by use of the Mantel-Haenszel statistic. All P values resulted from two-sided tests. RESULTS: Cytotoxicity increased with increasing etoposide concentration and exposure duration, as expected. By day 6, the frequency of exon 2 + 3 deletions was significantly higher (global P value = .0003) after the 4-hour treatment than after the 24-hour treatment, regardless of whether the frequency was assessed at etoposide concentrations achieving equivalent (e.g., 95%) cytotoxicity (14.2 x 10(-7) versus 4.1 x 10(-7) or at equivalent etoposide concentrations (e.g., 1 microM) (10.8 x 10(-7) versus 1.3 x 10(-7). Thus, the ratio of desired cytotoxic to undesired recombinogenic effects was higher with the 24-hour schedule. After the treated cells were subcloned at limiting dilutions, the frequency of the exon 2 + 3 deletion increased from 16.3 x 10(-7) to 4.33 x 10(-3), indicating that the recombinational event is not necessarily lethal. CONCLUSION: For all drug concentrations and levels of cytotoxicity studied in CCRF-CEM cells, there was a greater ratio of cytotoxicity to genetic recombination following prolonged exposure to etoposide than following brief exposure. IMPLICATION: These data suggest that recombinogenesis is not inextricably linked to cytotoxicity. If confirmed in the clinical setting, the use of prolonged dosage schedules may provide a means to decrease the risk of etoposide-induced acute myeloid leukemia without compromising treatment efficacy.

Mutagenicity of heterocyclic nitrogen mustards (ICR compounds) in cultured mammalian cells.

The mutagenicity of six heterocylic nitrogen mustards (ICR compounds) has been determined in a cultured mammalian cell system by use of resistance to the purine analog 6-thioguanine to select for mutation induction at the hypoxanthine-guanine phosphoribosyltransferase locus in Chinese hamster ovary cells. The six compounds tested are ICR 191, 170, 292, 372, 191-OH, and 170-OH. The first four contain a single 2-chloroethyl group (nitrogen half-mustard) on the side chain and are mutagenic, with the tertiary amine types (170 and 292) 3 to 5 times more mutagenic than the secondary amine types (191 and 372). The remaining two compounds (191-OH and 170-OH) are not mutagenic, indicating that the 2-chloroethyl group is needed for mutation induction.

Mutagenicity and cytotoxicity of nineteen heterocyclic mustards (ICR compounds) in cultured mammalian cells.

The mutagenicity and cytotoxicity of 19 ICR compounds, including 6 reported previously, have been determined in the Chinese hamster ovary/hypoxanthine-guanine phosphoribosyltransferase system. As with other physical and chemical agents, ICR 170 and 191 exhibit a phenotypic expression time of 7 to 9 days, independent of concentrations tested. Thirteen of these compounds are mutagenic. At equimolar concentrations, the compounds with the tertiary amine-type side chain (ICR 217, 340, 355, 368, 170, and 292) are more mutagenic than the compounds with the secondary amine-type side chain (ICR 449, 371, 191, and 372). All secondary amine types show a "plateau" in their concentration-dependent mutagenesis curves at 3 to 4 microM. Shortening of the side chain by one carbon (ICR 171) results in a reduced mutagenicity. Substitution of a sulfur atom for a nitrogen in the side chain (ICR 342) increases both mutagenicity and cytotoxicity. The presence of two 2-chloroethyl groups on the side chain (ICR 220) also results in greatly increased cytotoxicity and mutagenicity. When the 2-chloroethyl group of ICR 340, 372, 292, 191, or 170 is replaced by a 2-hydroxyethyl group (ICR 340-OH, 372-OH, 292-OH, 191-OH, or 170-OH), a mutagenically inactive compound results which remains toxic. Replacement of the amine linkage with an ether linkage (ICR 283) also yields a mutagenically inactive compound.

V(D)J recombinase-like activity mediates hprt gene deletion in human fetal T-lymphocytes.

Studies from several laboratories worldwide have developed a large database for in vivo hypoxanthine-guanine phosphoribosyltransferase gene mutations in human T-lymphocytes. Sufficient differences have been found thus far between the spectrum for spontaneous mutations in adults and that observed in the fetus to suggest fundamental differences in in vivo mutagenic mechanisms at these two life stages. In adults, only approximately 15% of hypoxanthine-guanine phosphoribosyltransferase mutations have structural alterations on Southern blots, while in the fetus 75% of mutations show alterations of which one-half are deletions of exons 2 and 3. We have now sequenced the breakpoint sites for these specific deletions in 18 mutant lymphocyte clones isolated from 13 normal newborns. Three classes of deletions were found. Each class had the same intron 1 breakpoint but a different intron 3 breakpoint. These mutations have all the signatures of a V(D)J recombinase-mediated event (a 5' consensus heptamer, 3' consensus heptamer and nonamer, nibbling, non-germline-encoded nucleotides, P-nucleotides). At the 3' breakpoint of the most common class (comprising 83% of the mutants) a perfect heptamer can be created by postulating a hairpin loop which could attain a Z-DNA configuration. This feature may indicate recombinase preference for certain DNA structures. These results implicate the V(D)J recombinase in illegitimate events causing mutation in this housekeeping gene during T-cell development. Inactivation of genes involved in the control of growth and differentiation (e.g., tumor suppressor genes) by this mechanism may have important implications for cancer development.

Human chromosome-specific DNA libraries: use of an oligodeoxynucleotide probe to detect non-recombinants.

The frequencies of non-recombinants are directly determined in 21 human DNA libraries prepared from flow-purified chromosomes. A radiolabeled 18-base oligodeoxynucleotide, whose sequence spans the cloning site, stably hybridizes to non-recombinants. When the cloning site is interrupted by an insert, less stable hybridization occurs. Non-recombinant frequencies range from 1-34% with the frequency of false positives being less than 1%. Libraries are being prepared for each human chromosome as part of the National Laboratory Gene Library Project and the specifications of seven new libraries are presented.

In vivo mutations in human blood cells: biomarkers for molecular epidemiology.

Mutations arising in vivo in recorder genes of human blood cells provide biomarkers for molecular epidemiology by serving as surrogates for cancer-causing genetic changes. Current markers include mutations of the glycophorin-A (GPA) or hemoglobin (Hb) genes, measured in red blood cells, or mutations of the hypoxanthine-guanine phosphoribosyltransferase (hprt) or HLA genes, measured in T-lymphocytes. Mean mutant frequencies (variant frequencies) for normal young adults are approximately: Hb (4 x 10(-8)) < hprt (5 x 10(-6)) = GPA (10 x 10(-6)) < HLA (30 x 10(-6)). Mutagen-exposed individuals show decided elevations. Molecular mutational spectra are also being defined. For the hprt marker system, about 15% of background mutations are gross structural alterations of the hprt gene (e.g., deletions); the remainder are point mutations (e.g., base substitutions or frameshifts). Ionizing radiations result in dose-related increases in total gene deletions. Large deletions may encompass several megabases as shown by co-deletions of linked markers. Possible hprt spectra for defining radiation and chemical exposures are being sought. In addition to their responsiveness to environmental mutagens/carcinogens, three additional findings suggest that the in vivo recorder mutations are relevant in vivo surrogates for cancer mutations. First, a large fraction of GPA and HLA mutations show exchanges due to homologous recombination, an important mutational event in cancer. Second, hprt mutations arise preferentially in dividing T-cells, which can accumulate additional mutations in the same clone, reminiscent of the multiple hits required in the evolution of malignancy.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Quantification and molecular characterization of hprt mutants of human T-lymphocytes.

Somatic mutations have been implicated as critical early events in carcinogenesis. Point mutations, deletions, and translocation events have been shown to activate oncogenes or inactivate suppressor oncogenes. In human population monitoring, quantitative analysis of mutation events that affect gene function is limited to those genes whose cellular phenotypes can be identified by selection procedures and to those tissues (like blood) that are accessible for analysis. In an effort to determine the frequency and types of mutations that can be detected at the hypoxanthine guanine phosphoribosyltransferase (hprt) gene, we have used the T-cell cloning assay and have developed a strategy to propagate mutants and screen for point mutations and breakage events. Early in the clonal expansion of mutants, 1-2 x 10(4) cells are prepared as a crude cell lysate, and a sample is analyzed using the multiplex polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Those mutants that yield altered DNA fragments are then expanded for Southern blot hybridization, PCR, flanking probe isolation, and DNA sequencing. To date we have found presumed point mutations, intragenic deletions, and deletions that extend outside of the hprt gene. By analyzing mutations in selectable, nonessential gene markers, it should be possible to understand mechanisms of both spontaneous and induced genetic damage. An association of these specific genetic events with human diseases and the evaluation of the ability of environmental chemicals to induce these specific types of mutations will lead to a rational basis for evaluating risks from various chemical exposures.

Mapping the end points of large deletions affecting the hprt locus in human peripheral blood cells and cell lines.

We have examined the extent of HPRT- total gene deletions in three mutant collections: spontaneous and X-ray-induced deletions in TK6 human B lymphoblasts, and HPRT- deletions arising in vivo in T cells. A set of 13 Xq26 STS markers surrounding hprt and spanning approximately 3.3 Mb was used. Each marker used was observed to be missing in at least one of the hprt deletion mutants analyzed. The largest deletion observed encompassed at least 3 Mb. Nine deletions extended outside of the mapped region in the centromeric direction (> 1.7 Mb). In contrast, only two telomeric deletions extended to marker 342R (1.26 Mb), and both exhibited slowed or limited cell growth. These data suggest the existence of a gene, within the vicinity of 342R, which establishes the telomeric limit of recoverable deletions. Most (25/41) X-ray-induced total gene deletion mutants exhibited marker loss, but only 1/8 of the spontaneous deletions encompassed any Xq26 markers (P = 0.0187). Furthermore, nearly half (3/8) of the spontaneous 3' total deletion breakpoints were within 14 kb of the hprt coding sequence. In contrast, 40/41 X-ray-induced HPRT- total deletions extended beyond this point (P = 0.011). Although the overall representation of total gene deletions in the in vivo spectrum is low, 4/5 encompass Xq26 markers flanking hprt. This pattern differs significantly from spontaneous HPRT- large deletions occurring in vitro (P = 0.032) but resembles the spectrum of X-ray-induced deletions.

Workshop overview: new molecular techniques in genome analysis.

An overview of the application of various molecular techniques to the analysis of genomic DNA is presented. For the analysis of small-scale changes, the polymerase chain reaction (PCR), colony probe hybridization, mismatch hybridization, and denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE) are providing information on mutations within prokaryotic and eukaryotic genes. For large-scale changes, fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH), pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE), Southern blotting, multiplex PCR, hybridization of linked probes, and restriction enzyme mapping are permitting analysis of genomic alterations that are larger than point mutations but below the resolution of standard cytogenetic analysis. Many of these techniques, either alone or in combination, produce DNA that can be subjected to DNA sequence analysis, which provides the most detailed information regarding genomic changes.

Direct DNA sequencing of PCR products.

Experiments are described which elucidate some of the technical problems associated with the direct sequencing of polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplified DNA. Sequencing primer purity, labeling methodology, and template preparation were explored. Conditions are presented for the routine sequencing of single- and double-stranded PCR products.

Centromere analysis of micronuclei induced by 2-aminoanthraquinone in cultured mouse splenocytes using both a gamma-satellite DNA probe and anti-kinetochore antibody.

We have tested 2-aminoanthraquinone (2-AAQ) as a potential aneugen in a cytokinesis-blocked mouse splenocyte micronucleus (MN) assay. Binucleated cells (BNC) were evaluated for MN, and the MN were further probed with two indicators of centromere presence: an anti-kinetochore autoantibody and a DNA probe for the mouse gamma-satellite locus. A dose-dependent increase in the frequency of BNC with MN was observed. At the highest 2-AAQ concentration (10 micrograms/ml), the frequency of BNC containing MN was increased greater than 10-fold over background. Both centromere-positive and centromere-negative MN were significantly increased. At least 62% of MN at all 2-AAQ doses were positive for the gamma-satellite DNA probe, while 30-53% were labeled with the antikinetochore antibody. In contrast with the 2-AAQ results, after treatment with the aneugen demecolcine (positive control), greater than 80% of MN labelled positive with both probes. This discordance in the results with the two probes after 2-AAQ exposure suggests that the mode of action of this chemical may be as an aneugen by disruption of the kinetochore proteins, as a clastogen with a preferential cleavage site at or near the gamma-satellite locus, or both. Our results also suggest that the use of either of these probes individually may not be an adequate measure of centromere presence. Nevertheless, positive results for both markers provides strong evidence that 2-AAQ is aneugenic.

Multiplex PCR analysis of in vivo-arising deletion mutations in the hprt gene of human T-lymphocytes.

A multiplex polymerase chain reaction (PCR) procedure was adapted for the rapid and efficient evaluation of deletions of the hypoxanthine guanine phosphoribosyltransferase (hprt) gene in human T-lymphocytes. The hprt clonal assay was used to isolate in vivo-arising hprt-deficient T-cells from six healthy males. Mutant frequencies ranged from 9-27 x 10(-6). Simple crude cellular extracts from 223 mutants were analyzed for hprt gene deletion. Sixteen (7.2%) were found to be due to total gene deletion and 22 (9.9%) were due to partial gene deletion. The relatively high frequency of total gene deletions was caused by replicate isolates of a single mutational event as shown by single-strand conformation polymorphism (SSCP) analysis of rearranged T-cell receptor (TCR)-gamma genes. Eighteen of the 22 partial hprt gene deletion mutants were determined to be of independent origin based on a unique hprt mutation or SSCP-TCR -gamma pattern. One-half (9/18) of the partial deletion mutants involved all or part of exon 4 alone, suggesting that this region of the hprt gene is prone to deletion. The small deletions effecting exon 1 (1 mutant), exon 2 (2 mutants), and exon 4 (6 mutants) would not have been detected by conventional Southern blot analysis and may represent a new, previously unrecognized class of mutations. The ready isolation of such intragenic deletions will allow the characterization of breakpoint junctions and may provide insights into the important processes of DNA breakage and rejoining.

Quantification of hprt gene deletions mediated by illegitimate V(D)J recombination in peripheral blood cells of humans.

V(D)J recombinase is normally involved in the highly regulated rearrangement of immunoglobulin and T-cell-receptor gene segments (in B and T cells, respectively) to form functional antibody genes and T-cell-receptor genes. Occasionally, this tightly controlled process acts on inappropriate places in the genome and results in deletions and translocations. Some of these illegitimate V(D)J recombinase-mediated events have been implicated in the genetic changes associated with several forms of leukemia and lymphoid malignancy. We have developed a sensitive, specific polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-based assay to quantify such events in the peripheral blood cells of humans. This assay detects a V(D)J recombinase-mediated deletion in the hprt gene, which codes for a housekeeping enzyme and is not implicated in cancer development. Alterations in this gene serve as a surrogate indicator for these illegitimate events, which may be occurring throughout the genome. The assay involves a hemi-nested PCR with two sets of primers. Multiple replicates of genomic DNA (each representing 4 x 10(5) cells) are amplified with specific primers under conditions in which a single copy will give a detectable PCR product. Poisson statistics are then used to estimate the deletion mutant frequency. The frequency of cells with the hprt deletion among 20 healthy young adults ranged from <1.3 x 10(-7) to 4.1 x 10(-7) and was compared with the frequency of t(14;18) previously determined in these same individuals. No correlation was found between the frequencies of these two measures of genomic rearrangement. The DNA sequences at the deletion junctions were determined and provided evidence for multiple independent mutations in some individuals. This assay may serve as a biomarker for the level of illegitimate V(D)J recombination occurring in peripheral blood cells of humans.

In vivo genotoxicity of dichloroacetic acid: evaluation with the mouse peripheral blood micronucleus assay and the single cell gel assay.

Chlorination is a widely used method for disinfection of drinking water supplies. Reaction of chlorine with naturally present organic compounds can result in toxic by-products. One major disinfection by-product from the chlorination of drinking water is dichloroacetic acid (DCA). This chemical has been shown to be carcinogenic in rodents, yet little genotoxicity data are available to assess the possible role of DNA and/or chromosomal damage in this process. We have used the peripheral blood erythrocyte micronucleus (MN) assay and the alkaline single cell gel electrophoresis (SCG) technique to investigate the in vivo genotoxicity of DCA in bone marrow and blood leukocytes, respectively. The MN assay detects chromosome breakage and/or malsegregation, while the SCG assay detects DNA damage (e.g., single strand breaks, alkali-labile sites, crosslinking). Mice were exposed to this compound in drinking water, available ad libitum, for up to 31 weeks. Our results show a small but statistically significant dose-related increase in the frequency of micronucleated polychromatic erythrocytes (PCEs) after subchronic exposure to DCA for 9 days. In addition, at the highest dose of DCA tested (3.5 g/l), a small but significant increase in the frequency of micronucleated normochromatic erythrocytes (NCE) was detected following exposure for > or = 10 weeks. Coadministration of the antioxidant vitamin E did not affect the ability of DCA to induce this damage, indicating that the small induction of MN by DCA was probably not due to oxidative damage. Based on the lack of any difference observed in the proportion of kinetochore-positive micronuclei between the treated and control animals, we interpret MN as arising from clastogenic events. The SCG technique suggested the presence of DNA crosslinking in blood leukocytes in mice exposed to 3.5 g/l DCA for 28 days. These data provide evidence that DCA may be an extremely weak inducer of chromosome damage when provided to mice in drinking water under conditions which lead to increased levels of tumors.

Quantification and analysis of reverse mutations at the hgprt locus in Chinese hamster ovary cells.

We describe an assay for the quantification of reverse mutations at the hypoxanthine-guanine phosphoribosyltransferase (hgprt) locus in Chinese hamster ovary cells utilizing the selective agent L-azaserine (AS). Conditions are defined in terms of optimal AS concentration, cell density, and phenotypic expression time. After treatment, replicate cultures of 10(6) cells are allowed a 48-h phenotypic expression time in 100-mm plates. AS (10 muM) is then added directly to the growing culture and AS-resistant (ASr) cells form visible colonies. This assay is used to quantify ICR-191-, ICR-170-, and N-ethyl-N-nitrosourea-induced reversion of independently isolated HGPRT- clones. The ASr phenotype is characterized both physiologically and biochemically. All ASr clones isolated are stably resistant to AS and aminopterin but sensitive to 6-thioguanine. They also have re-expressed HGPRT enzyme. In addition, several revertants are shown to contain altered HGPRT. The data provide further evidence that ICR-191 and ICR-170 cause structural gene mutations in mammalian cells and also suggest that ICR-191, ICR-170, and N-ethyl-N-nitrosourea induce similar types of mutations in Chinese hamster ovary cells.

The frequency of illegitimate TCRbeta/gamma gene recombination in human lymphocytes: influence of age, environmental exposure and cytostatic treatment, and correlation with frequencies of t(14;18) and hprt mutation.

Chromosome translocations in lymphoid malignancies often involve V(D)J recombinase mediated events giving rise to aberrant T-cell receptor (TCR) and immunoglobulin genes, which have been suggested to be useful as markers of genomic instability, genotoxic exposure and cancer risk. Illegitimate rearrangements involving the TCRbeta/gamma loci on chromosome 7 create TCRbeta/gamma hybrid genes which occur at low frequency in peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBLs) of normal healthy individuals. To evaluate the utility of this marker, we studied the possible effects of age and genotoxic exposures on the TCRbeta/gamma gene variant frequency (VF), and compared the frequencies of hypoxanthine guanine phosphoribosyl transferase (hprt) mutation, hprt exon 2/3 deletion, t(14;18) and TCRbeta/gamma gene rearrangements in cells from the same donors. The TCRbeta/gamma VF ranged five-fold among 16 middle aged blood donors with a mean of 0.74+/-0.29/10(5) PBLs, which is consistent with our previous estimate in healthy subjects. The TCRbeta/gamma VF was found to increase from birth until early adult life, and then to decrease with increasing age. Four testis cancer patients, who 6 years earlier had been treated with etoposide and other cytostatic drugs, showed TCRbeta/gamma VF similar to that in healthy controls. No increase of the TCRbeta/gamma VF was found among non-smoking PAH-exposed aluminum smelter workers compared to non-smoking controls. Smoking smelter workers showed decreased TCRbeta/gamma VF compared to non-smoking workers and controls, but in a follow-up study 2 years later the difference was no longer statistically significant, although the smoking smelter workers still showed a lower TCRbeta/gamma VF than the controls. No correlation was obtained between the TCRbeta/gamma VF and the t(14;18) or hprt mutant frequency (MF) in a group of healthy individuals. However, there was a statistically significant correlation between the TCRbeta/gamma VF and the hprt exon 2/3 deletion frequency in PBL DNA from the same donors. These results show that the TCRbeta/gamma VF in healthy individuals changes with age and correlates with the frequency of hprt exon 2/3 deletion, another marker of aberrant V(D)J recombination in T-cells. However, no effect of smoking or present or previous exposure to genotoxic agents on TCRbeta/gamma VF was observed in this study. Thus, further studies are needed to prove the utility of TCRbeta/gamma gene rearrangement as a marker of genotoxic exposure.