Modification of Radiation Response in Synchronized HeLa Cells by Metabolic Inhibitors

Summary

Treatment of irradiated HeLa cells by puromycin aminonucleoside (PAN), an inhibitor of ribosomal RNA-synthesis, markedly reduces colony-forming ability. Post-irradiation treatment by PAN in the mitotically synchronized cells shows that the highest potentiating effect of PAN is observed at the end of the S phase, normally the most radioresistant part of the cell cycle, and least effective during G-2 and G-1 phases, in that order.

Based on the known mechanism of action of this drug, the possible role of certain metabolic events in radiation response of living cells is discussed.