The Effects of Radioprotectors on DNA Polymerase I-Directed Repair Synthesis and DNA Strand Breaks in Toluene-Treated and X-Irradiated Escherichia coli

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Abstract
In E. coli made permeable to nucleotides by toluene treatment, a DNA polymerase I-directed repair synthesis is induced by exposure to X-rays. This repair synthesis may be amplified and easily measured through inhibition of DNA ligase action. In an effort to learn more of the relationship between X-ray-induced strand breaks in cellular DNA and the extent of this repair synthesis, experiments designed to compare the influence of radioprotectors on strand-break production and repair synthesis were carried out. Cysteamine, sodium formate and glycerol not only protect against strand breaks but also reduce DNA polymerase I-directed repair synthesis. I-, an efficient hydroxyl radical scavenger, is not as effective a protective agent against strand breaks and does not measurably affect repair synthesis.