Involvement of Membrane Lipids in Radiation Damage to Potassium-ion Permeability of Escherichia Coli

Summary

Radiation damage to K⁺ permeability of an unsaturated fatty acid auxotroph of E. coli grown with oleate or linolenate was investigated at different temperatures. A remarkable effect of radiation was observed at 0°C with cells that had been grown with linolenate at 42°C. This indicates that, besides protein, membrane lipids at least are involved in the radiation damage. The damage also seems to be affected by the fluidity of membrane lipids.