Involvement of nucleophosmin/B23 in the response of HeLa cells to UV irradiation

The steady‐state mRNA level of nucleophosmin/B23 in HeLa cells increased after UV irradiation. Nucleophosmin/B23 antisense transfection potentiated ultraviolet (UV)‐induced cell killing. A block in G2/M phase, larger peak of apoptotic cells and higher caspase‐3 in vitro activity were noted in nucleophosmin/B23 antisense‐transfected cells compared with vector‐transfected cells after UV treatment. Irradiated cells that received vector plasmid exhibited increased levels of [3H]thymidine incorporation due to DNA repair synthesis. In contrast, irradiated cells that received nucleophosmin/B23 antisense plasmid exhibited no such increase of [3H]thymidine incorporation, indicating inhibition of DNA repair. Cotransfection of cells with vector allowed repair of the damaged chloramphenicol acetyl transferase (CAT) reporter and rescue of CAT activity by host repair machinery. CAT activity in cells cotransfected with nucleophosmin/B23 antisense was less (