ABSTRACT
<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the role of JWA gene in benzo (a) pyrene [B (a) P] induced DNA damage and repair effects in HeLa cells.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The antisense JWA express vector (pEGFP-C1-asJWA) was constructed and stably transfected into HeLa cells. JWA deficient HeLa cells (asJWA-HeLa) was then screened and established. The general characteristics of asJWA-HeLa cells were investigated. DNA damage and repair cell culture model was conducted by treating the cells with 50 micromol/L B (a) P plus S9 for 3 hours and then the cells were maintained further 0, 1, 3, and 24 hours for DNA repairing. The damaged DNA was detected by single cell gel electrophoresis assay (comet assay).</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>JWA deficient HeLa cells (with a 31% of JWA protein expression as compared with the control) were obtained successfully. Compared with the empty vector transfected cells (C1-HeLa) and the untransfected HeLa cells, asJWA-HeLa cells were more sensitive to B (a) P exposure and with a delayed DNA repair process.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The JWA determined might function as a potential effective environmental responsive gene and actively participate the process of B (a) P exposure associated with intracellular signal pathways of DNA damage and repair.</p>