Effect of Some Metabolites and Antimetabolites on the Breakdown of Deoxyribonucleic Acid and on the Colony-Forming Ability of Escherichia coli B after Gamma Irradiation: III. Effect of Uncoupling Agents and the Fate of Ribonucleic Acid and Protein during the Breakdown of Deoxyribonucleic Acid and Its Inhibition

Abstract

In the first and second papers of this series (1, 2) it was demonstrated that the 7-ray-induced breakdown of DNA in Escherichia coli B could be completely or partially inhibited by addition of some metabolites to the acetate buffer in which the bacteria were incubated after irradiation. The breakdown of DNA was completely inhibited in the irradiated cells only under conditions under which no synthesis of DNA took place in the controls. The stabilization of DNA in the irradiated cells had no favorable influence on their survival.