Radiation-induced damage in T4 bacteriophage: the effect of superoxide radicals and molecular oxygen. [. gamma. -irradiated in phosphate buffer suspensions]

Journal Article · Fri Sep 01 04:00:00 EDT 1978 · Radiat. Res.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2307/3574836· OSTI ID:6589367

Samuni, A; Chevion, M; Halpern, Y S; Ilan, Y A; Czapski, G

The sensitivity of T4 bacteriophage toward ..gamma.. irradiation has been studied in phosphate buffer suspensions. The spectrum of the water radicals was controlled by a careful choice of the appropriate saturating gas and the addition of radical scavengers. Thus, it was possible to distinguish between the effects of molecular oxygen and the superoxide radicals formed through its reactions. About 90% of the damage was caused by the water radicals formed in the bulk suspensions. These probably affected the phage proteins; only the remainder of the damage involved the viral DNA. The oxygen enhancement ratio observed was not connected in any way with the formation of the superoxide radicals. The results confirmed that the OH radicals are the reactive species, while e/sub aq//sup -/ as well as the superoxide radical do not contribute to the radiodamage.

• Research Organization: Hebrew Univ., Jerusalem
• OSTI ID: 6589367
• Journal Information: Radiat. Res.; (United States), Journal Name: Radiat. Res.; (United States) Vol. 75:3; ISSN RAREA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

38 RADIATION CHEMISTRY, RADIOCHEMISTRY, AND NUCLEAR CHEMISTRY
400600 -- Radiation Chemistry
550200 -- Biochemistry
560112* -- Radiation Effects on Biochemicals-- In Microorganisms-- (-1987)
560131 -- Radiation Effects on Microorganisms-- Basic Studies-- (-1987)
59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
ALKALI METAL ISOTOPES
BACTERIOPHAGES
BETA DECAY RADIOISOTOPES
BETA-MINUS DECAY RADIOISOTOPES
BIOCHEMICAL REACTION KINETICS
BIOLOGICAL EFFECTS
BIOLOGICAL RADIATION EFFECTS
BUFFERS
CESIUM 137
CESIUM ISOTOPES
CHEMICAL RADIATION EFFECTS
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
CHEMISTRY
CRYOGENIC FLUIDS
DECOMPOSITION
DNA
ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION
ELECTRONS
ELEMENTARY PARTICLES
ELEMENTS
FERMIONS
FLUIDS
GAMMA RADIATION
HYDROGEN COMPOUNDS
HYDROXYL RADICALS
IN VITRO
IONIZING RADIATIONS
IRRADIATION
ISOTOPES
KINETICS
LEPTONS
MICROORGANISMS
NONMETALS
NUCLEI
NUCLEIC ACIDS
ODD-EVEN NUCLEI
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
OXYGEN
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
OXYGEN ENHANCEMENT RATIO
PARASITES
PHOSPHATES
PHOSPHORUS COMPOUNDS
PROTEINS
RADIATION CHEMISTRY
RADIATION EFFECTS
RADIATIONS
RADICALS
RADIOINDUCTION
RADIOISOTOPES
RADIOLYSIS
RADIOSENSITIVITY EFFECTS
REACTION KINETICS
SCAVENGING
SOLVATED ELECTRONS
STRAND BREAKS
SUPEROXIDE RADICALS
VIRUSES
WATER
YEARS LIVING RADIOISOTOPES