Effect of Time and Intensity of Radium Radiation upon the Inverting Capacity of Yeast

Abstract

ALTHOUGH the view has often been expressed that the radiation of living cells must modify the action of some of their contained enzymes, experiments upon the enzymes in vitro have given either negative results or produced only a slight inhibition, even when very heavy doses of X- or -radiation have been applied. For this reason, Havard¹ considers that the inhibition by X-rays of the respiration of surviving cells is probably not due to their effect upon the enzymes employed in respiration, but to some other cause, possibly to some effect upon the properties of the interphase surfaces surrounding and within the cell.