Figure 2

Radiation induced DNA damage. Cells were incubated with the indicated doses of ectoine for 2 h before irradiation with 0 or 4 Gy. After 1 h (induction) or 24 h (residual damage) the cells were harvested, fixed, stained for γH2AX and counterstained for DNA content. (A) Exemplary flow cytometric assessment of the γH2AX level in relation to the DNA content in F184 normal human fibroblasts. (B) DNA damage induction and (C) residual DNA damage levels: Graphs represent the fold change of γH2AX staining intensity of the cell fractions defined by DNA content normalized to the respective untreated G1-fractions.