Skip to main content
PMC home page
Biophysical Journal logoLink to Biophysical Journal
. 1962 Nov;2(6):451–463. doi: 10.1016/s0006-3495(62)86867-2

Effects of Decay of Incorporated H3-Thymidine on Bacteria

Stanley Person, Hazel Leah Lewis
PMCID: PMC1366412  PMID: 19431318

Abstract

The killing efficiency due to the decay of incorporated H3-thymidine in three mutants of E. coli strain 15: 15T-, 15T-L-, and 15T-U- has been determined. This efficiency is comparable to that previously determined by others for P32 decay. The killing efficiency has been determined as a function of H3-thymidine specific activity, storage media and storage temperature. We have observed a latent killing effect that causes lethality under certain conditions. The kinetics of latent killing have been examined at several temperatures. Finally, mutation production induced by H3-thymidine decays was shown to occur. The results are consistent with the idea that inactivation and mutations may be caused by a process in the nuclear transmutation that is not associated with β-particle ionization damage.

Full text

PDF

Selected References

These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.

  1. APELGOT S., LATARJET R. [Labelling of a bacterial desoxyribonucleic acid by radiophosphorus, radiocarbon and tritium: comparison of the lethal effects]. Biochim Biophys Acta. 1962 Jan 22;55:40–55. doi: 10.1016/0006-3002(62)90929-0. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  2. CAIRNS J. An estimate of the length of the DNA molecule of T2 bacteriophage by autoradiography. J Mol Biol. 1961 Dec;3:756–761. doi: 10.1016/s0022-2836(61)80080-6. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  3. CRAWFORD L. V. Thymine metabolism in strains of Escherichia coli. Biochim Biophys Acta. 1958 Nov;30(2):428–429. doi: 10.1016/0006-3002(58)90071-4. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  4. HERSHEY A. D., KAMEN M. D., KENNEDY J. W., GEST H. The mortality of bacteriophage containing assimilated radioactive phosphorus. J Gen Physiol. 1951 Jan;34(3):305–319. doi: 10.1085/jgp.34.3.305. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  5. KAUDEWITZ F., VIELMETTER W., FRIEDRICH-FREKSA H. Mutagene Wirkung des Zerfalles von radioaktivem Phosphor nach Einbau in Zellen von Escherichia coli. Z Naturforsch B. 1958 Dec;13B(12):793–802. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  6. STENT G. S., FUERST C. R. Inactivation of bacteriophages by decay of incorporated radioactive phosphorus. J Gen Physiol. 1955 Mar 20;38(4):441–458. doi: 10.1085/jgp.38.4.441. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]

Articles from Biophysical Journal are provided here courtesy of The Biophysical Society

RESOURCES