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Increased capacity for glutathione synthesis enhances resistance to radiation in Escherichia coli: a possible model for mammalian cell protection

Journal Article · · Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A.; (United States)
; ; ; ;
A strain of Escherichia coli, enriched in its content of gamma-glutamylcysteine synthetase and glutathione synthetase activities by recombinant DNA techniques, is more resistant to the lethal effects of gamma-irradiation than is the corresponding wild strain. Although the gene-enriched strain has higher glutathione levels than the wild strain, the observed radioresistance appears to be associated with the increased capacity of the gene-enriched strain to synthesize glutathione when irradiated rather than to the cellular levels of glutathione per se. Thus, resistance was abolished in the presence of buthionine sulfoximine, a selective inactivator of gamma-glutamylcysteine synthetase that decreases glutathione synthesis but that does not act directly to lower cellular glutathione levels. Conclusions drawn from studies on this E. coli model system may have relevance to protection of mammalian cells by glutathione.
Research Organization:
Cornell Univ. Medical College, New York, NY (USA)
OSTI ID:
6276384
Journal Information:
Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A.; (United States), Journal Name: Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A.; (United States) Vol. 86:5; ISSN PNASA
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English

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Related Subjects

560130* -- Radiation Effects on Microorganisms
63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
ANTIMETABOLITES
BACTERIA
DNA
DRUGS
ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION
ENZYME ACTIVITY
ENZYMES
ESCHERICHIA COLI
GAMMA RADIATION
GLUTATHIONE
IONIZING RADIATIONS
LIGASES
MICROORGANISMS
NUCLEIC ACIDS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
PEPTIDES
POLYPEPTIDES
PROTEINS
RADIATION PROTECTION
RADIATIONS
RADIOPROTECTIVE SUBSTANCES
RADIOSENSITIVITY
RADIOSENSITIVITY EFFECTS
RECOMBINANT DNA