SYNERGISTIC ACTION OF NITROGEN MUSTARD AND RADIATION IN MICROORGANISMS

Journal Article · Fri Nov 01 04:00:00 EST 1963 · Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.50.5.839· OSTI ID:4151031

Haynes, R H; Inch, W R

A technique is described for obtaining reproducible doseeffect curves (analogous to radiobiological survival curves) for the inactivation of microorganisms by the bifunctional alkylating agent, nitrogen mustard. The nitrogen mustard dose-effect curves for haploid and diploid yeast are similar in shape to the corresponding x-ray survival curves for these organisms, i.e., exponential for haploid and sigmoid for diploid. The LD90 dose ratio between the two ploidies is 4 for HN2 and 5 for x rays. E. coli B/r is more resistant to inactivation by HN2 than is E. coli B. Nitrogen mustard acts synergistically with both x rays and ultraviolet light in the inactivation of E. coli B/r, and diploid yeast, but only with ultraviolet light in haploid yeast. It is suggested that the formation by HN2 of sublethal structural defects in DNA serves to enhance the killing effect of both ultraviolet and ionizing radiations, and that synergistic effects arise through the mutual inhibition of reactivation processes that would otherwise serve to repair or by-pass some fraction of the molecular damage. (auth)

• Research Organization: Univ. of Chicago
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE
• NSA Number: NSA-18-001416
• OSTI ID: 4151031
• Journal Information: Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S., Journal Name: Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S. Vol. Vol: 50
• Country of Publication: Country unknown/Code not available
• Language: English

Related Subjects

BACTERIA
BIOLOGY AND MEDICINE
CHROMOSOMES
DIAGRAMS
DNA
ESCHERICHIA COLI
LETHAL DOSE
MOLECULES
NITROGEN MUSTARD
NUCLEIC ACIDS
ORGANIC NITROGEN COMPOUNDS
QUANTITY RATIO
RADIATION DOSES
RADIATION EFFECTS
SURVIVAL TIME
ULTRAVIOLET RADIATION
VARIATIONS
X RADIATION
YEASTS