Biochemical analysis of damage induced in yeast by formaldehyde.

Cross-links between DNA and proteins were induced by formaldehyde treatment in yeast cells. This damage can be repaired by post-treatment incubation of cells or protoplasts in nutrient medium. This repair was observed for wild-type cells as well as for a UV-sensitive, excision-deficient mutant (rad1-3), also sensitive to the lethal effect of formaldehyde.