FIG. 8.

Structural integrity of irradiated Escherichia coli cells and bacteriophage lambda viruses assessed by transmission electron microscopy after exposure to γ-radiation in the presence or absence of a reconstituted Deinococcus Mn²⁺-decapeptide complex (MnDpPi). (A) E. coli. (I), E. coli in PiB (non-irradiated control); (II) E. coli irradiated in PiB to 25 kGy; (III) E. coli irradiated in MnDpPi to 25 kGy. (B) Lambda phage. (I) λ phage in PiB (non-irradiated control); (II), λ phage irradiated in PiB to 40 kGy; (III) λ phage irradiated in MnDpPi to 40 kGy. PiB, 25 mM phosphate buffer pH 7.4; MnDpPi, 3 mM MnCl₂+3 mM Dp:H-Asp-Glu-His-Gly-Thr-Ala-Val-Met-Leu-Lys-OH+25 mM PiB (29). Radiation source: ⁶⁰Co γ-radiation (23).