Hyperresistance to formaldehyde of Saccharomyces cerevisiae seems not to be correlated with the formation and removal of DNA protein cross-links

The formation and removal of formaldehyde-mediated DNA protein cross-linking was measured by CsCI density gradient analysis in yeast strains of differing resistance to formaldehyde. Wild-type cells and transformants made hyperresistant to formaldehyde by a multi-copy vector containing the yeast SFA gene were specifically labeled in their DNA and incubated in the presence of formaldehyde. Treatment with formaldehyde lead to the formation of equal amounts of DNA protein cross-links; subsequent liquid holding of cells for 24 h resulted in the removal of nearly all DNA protein crosslinks regardless of the original formaldehyde resistance status of the strains.