Synthesis of Protein, RNA, DNA and Induced Enzyme in Bacterium Cadaveris after X-irradiation

Summary

Findings are presented on the x-ray inhibition of total protein-synthesis, the induced synthesis of lysine decarboxylase, RNA- and DNA-formation and colony-formation of Bacterium cadaveris immediately after x-irradiation. The rate of protein-, enzyme- and RNA-formation is an exponential function of dose with practically the same inactivation dose of 30 kr. It is concluded that the block of RNA-formation is responsible for the inhibition of protein-synthesis. The colony-forming ability has been found to be three times more radiosensitive. The D₃₇ of the exponential survival-curve is about 10 kr. DNA-formation shows a prolongation of the time-lag after x-irradiation. The oxygen-enhancement factor is roughly the same for all functions tested and lies in the neighbourhood of 4.