Effects of UV Rays on DNA

As a tenured biochemist at Brookhaven National Laboratory Biology Department, Betsy vigorously pursued the systematic study of the biological consequences of UV radiation on bacteria and human cells. Through her studies of the photoreactivating enzyme and its activity in human cells, she built a formidable expertise in cell biology and genetics. To the field of DNA repair, she applied the powerful techniques of genetic manipulation and DNA cloning.

These studies were richly rewarded in 1985, when the U.S. Department of Energy awarded Betsy the prestigious Ernest Orlando Lawrence Memorial Award for her outstanding contributions to atomic energy. Betsy was the first woman ever to receive this award. 

It was a scientifically prolific period. Betsy authored or coauthored more than 80 papers, publishing close to five articles each year. 

Seven publications during this period are among Betsy’s most cited papers, including four with John as coauthor.  

Date label
1977-1994
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Entry Columns

As a tenured biochemist at Brookhaven National Laboratory Biology Department, Betsy vigorously pursued the systematic study of the biological consequences of UV radiation on bacteria and human cells.

 

Through her studies of the photoreactivating enzyme and its activity in human cells, she built a formidable expertise in cell biology and genetics.

 

To the field of DNA repair, she applied the powerful techniques of genetic manipulation and DNA cloning.

 

These studies were richly rewarded in 1985, when the U.S. Department of Energy awarded Betsy the prestigious Ernest Orlando Lawrence Memorial Award for her outstanding contributions to atomic energy.

 

Betsy was the first woman ever to receive this award.

It was a scientifically prolific period. Betsy authored or coauthored more than 80 papers, publishing close to five articles each year.

Seven publications during this period are among Betsy’s most cited papers, including four with John as coauthor.

Data from electrophoretic gels were stored in 8-inch floppy disks
Data from electrophoretic gels were stored in 8-inch floppy disks.
Courtesy Brookhaven National Laboratory.

PUBLICATIONS

Sutherland BM, Cimino JS, Delihas N, Gih, A, Oliver, RP. 1980. Ultraviolet Light-Induced Transformation of Human Cells to Anchorage-Independent Growth. Cancer Res. 40:1934-1939.
Sutherland BM, Harber, LC, Kochevar IE. 1980. Pyrimidine Dimer Formation and Repair in Human Skin. Cancer Res. 40:3181-3185.
Gange RW, Blackett AD, Matzinger EA, Sutherland, BM, Kochevar IE. 1985. Comparative Protective Efficiency of UVA- and UVB‑Induced Tans Protective Against Erythema and Formation of Endonuclease‑Sensitive Sites in DNA by UVB in Human Skin. J. Invest. Dermatol. 85:362‑364.
Freeman SE, Blackett AD, Monteleone DC, Setlow RB, Sutherland BM, Sutherland JC. 1986. Quantitation of Radiation‑, Chemical‑, or Enzyme‑Induced Single Strand Breaks in Nonradioactive DNA by Alkaline Gel Electrophoresis: Application to Pyrimidine Dimers. Analyt. Biochem. 158: 119‑129.
Sutherland JC, Lin B, Monteleone DC, Mugavero J, Sutherland BM, Trunk J. 1987. Electronic Imaging System for Direct and Rapid Quantitation of Fluorescence from Electrophoresis Gels: Application to Ethidium Bromide-Stained DNA. Analyt. Biochem. 163:446-457.
Freeman SE, Hacham H, Gange RW, Maytum D, Sutherland JC, Sutherland BM. 1989. Wavelength Dependence of Pyrimidine Dimer Formation in DNA of Human Skin Irradiated in situ with Ultraviolet Light. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 86:5605-5609.
Quaite FE, Sutherland BM, Sutherland JC. 1992. Action spectrum for DNA Damage in Alfalfa Lowers Predicted Impact of Ozone Depletion. Nature 358:576-578.
With John G. Trunk, Denise C. Monteleone, and others, John developed a two-dimensional scanner to analyze photographic negatives of ethidium bromide-stained DNA-agarose gels
With John G. Trunk, Denise C. Monteleone, and others, John developed a two-dimensional scanner to analyze photographic negatives of ethidium bromide-stained DNA-agarose gels.
Courtesy Brookhaven National Laboratory.