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The influence of thymine and 5-bromouracil on the sensitivity ofEscherichia coli to alkylation, UV and X-irradiation

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Abstract

The influence is followed of an alkylating agent (triethylene-melamine) UV and X-irradiation on the survival ofEscherichia coli 15 T∋ells grown in a minimal medium containing enzymatic hydrolysate of caseine. Thymine-less death of a considerable number of cells was observed in a culture grown in this medium. A conclusive difference in the sensitivity to the lethal agents used was found between a culture grown in a thymine-less medium and bacteria grown in a medium containing excess (20 μg/ml) of thymine. The culture grown with a sufficient thymine concentration was more sensitive to alkylation and X-rays, whereas bacteria surviving conditions of thymine-less death were more resistant to the above agents. However, such cells were more sensitive to UV-irradiation. The differences found are discussed from the point of view of DNA concentrations found in the individual cultures.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry, Czechoslovak Academy of Sciences, Prague 6

    V. Fučík, S. Zadrazil & Zora Šormová

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  1. V. Fučík
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  2. S. Zadrazil
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  3. Zora Šormová
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Fučík, V., Zadrazil, S. & Šormová, Z. The influence of thymine and 5-bromouracil on the sensitivity ofEscherichia coli to alkylation, UV and X-irradiation. Folia Microbiol 11, 271–276 (1966). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02878896

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