Skip to main content
U.S. Department of Energy
Office of Scientific and Technical Information

Induction of radioresistance in Escherichia coli. [X radiation, uv radiation]

Journal Article · · Biophys. J.; (United States)
The effect of prior treatment by inducing agents on the radioresistance of cells of Escherichia coli has been studied. In order to separate the induction process from the radiation-damage process, cells were first treated with inducing agents such as ultraviolet light, ionizing radiation, or nalidixic acid, allowed to become induced by incubation for 50 min and then given rifampin to prevent further induction. They were then tested for radiation sensitivity. It was found that all strains tested except recA/sup -/, lex/sup -/, and recB/sup -/ showed very apparent protection. Induction by uv had the most effect and by nalidixic acid the least. The time course of development of protection was observed in one case: it is 50 percent established in 15 min. The absence of effect in recA/sup -/ and lex/sup -/ is explainable by the fact that these cells cannot be induced, for example, for prophage or the inducible inhibitor of post-irradiation DNA degradation. We suggest that the inducible inhibitor of postirradiation DNA degradation is one factor in a recovery system possessed by E. coli cells.
Research Organization:
Pennsylvania State Univ., University Park
OSTI ID:
7347524
Journal Information:
Biophys. J.; (United States), Journal Name: Biophys. J.; (United States) Vol. 15:11; ISSN BIOJA
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English