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
461

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