REPAIR OF UV-INDUCED PYRIMIDINE DIMERS IN <i>DROSOPHILA MELANOGASTER</i> CELLS IN VITRO

Abstract

Tissue culture cells of Drosophila melanogaster were given various doses of ultraviolet light. The results indicate that Drosophila cells do have a dark-repair excision mechanism which is not sensitive to caffeine. Pyrimidine dimers were destroyed by photoreactivating illumination in these cells and this destruction probably represents monomerization of the pyrimidine dimers.